Collagen Supplements: Optimal Dosage, Timing, & Implementation for Tendon Health

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In this episode, Brodie breaks down a brand-new 2026 systematic review investigating whether collagen supplementation truly improves tendon health, recovery, and performance. With conflicting advice from experts and unclear evidence in the past, this paper helps clarify what actually works—and more importantly, how to apply it to your training.

Paper: Collagen Supplementation on Tendon-Related Structural and Performance Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Key Takeaways

Collagen can improve tendon structure and stiffness—but only when combined with proper strength training Dosage matters: 15–30g appears more effective than lower doses Timing matters: ~60 minutes before training aligns with peak amino acid availability Vitamin C enhances the process, helping collagen synthesis and cross-linking  Collagen does NOT improve muscle strength beyond what training alone achievesBottom line: collagen seems tendon-specific, not a general performance enhancer

Training Requirements

Must include structured resistance training Target 70–90% of 1RM (heavy loading) Tendons need a strong mechanical stimulus to adaptCollagen without loading = minimal benefit

Final Thoughts

This paper helps move us from confusion to clarity.