Effect of Collagen Hydrolysate and Fish Oil on High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Glucose Homeostasis inPatients with severe Burn; a Randomized Clinical Trial

Collagen and omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) are suggested to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant,and insulin-sensitizing properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of collagen hydrolysate andomega-3 FAs on inflammation and insulin resistance in patients with major burns.

In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 66 patients with 20-45% burns were assigned to either of the three groups ofcollagen (40 gr/d), collagen (40 gr/d) plus fish oil (10 ml/d), or control. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and insulin concentrations, and homeostatic model assessment for insulinresistance (HOMA-IR) were assessed at baseline, as well as end of weeks two and three.

Based on post-hoc analyses, hs-CRP levels were significantly lower in the collagen (p=0.026) and collagen+omega-3 (p=0.044)groups compared to the control group, at week three. However, pre- to post- (week three) changes of hs-CRPwere significantly higher only in the collagen+omega-3 group compared to the control group (173.2 vs. 103.7mg/l, p=0.024). After three weeks of the intervention, insulin (11.3 and 11.9 vs. 22.8μIU/ml) and HOMA-IR (2.9and 2.8 vs. 7.9) values seemed to be clinically, but not statistically, lower in both intervention groups comparedto the control group. Pre- to post- (week three) values of FBG decreased significantly in the collagen (p=0.002)and collagen+omega-3 (p=0.036) groups. Insulin (p=0.008) and HOMA-IR (p=0.001) decreased significantly onlyin the collagen+omega-3 group at week three compared to the baseline.

Supplementation withcollagen hydrolysate and omega-3 FAs can improve hs-CRP concentration and probably insulin resistance inpatients with severe burns. Omega-3 FAs had additional effects on modulating inflammation. Larger clinicaltrials are needed to confirm the current findings especially in terms of glucose homeostasis.