Journal September 27, 2026 4 min read

Which Peptides Are Studied in Relation to Muscle Damage Markers?

A research-supply review of peptide and peptide-adjacent compounds examined against muscle damage markers such as LDH and CK, including chickpea protein hydrolysate, astaxanthin, and the ccPT-SIL-NR combination.

peptides-pro Editorial

The compounds most directly studied in relation to muscle damage markers in the evidence reviewed here are chickpea protein hydrolysate, astaxanthin, and the dietary supplement combination ccPT-SIL-NR (pterostilbene cocrystal, silybin, and nicotinamide riboside). Chickpea protein hydrolysate is a peptide preparation derived from hydrolysed chickpea protein; the evidence block does not provide a sequence, formula, or molecular weight for it. Astaxanthin is a carotenoid antioxidant, not a peptide, and is included here because it is studied against the same marker panel. ccPT-SIL-NR is a multi-component dietary supplement rather than a single peptide. The muscle damage markers named across these studies are lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK).

The work centres on exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory signalling, with antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory cytokine pathways measured alongside the muscle damage markers. No single receptor family is identified in the evidence block.

Research Studies

Chickpea protein hydrolysate and muscle damage markers during a football tournament

A randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study evaluated a beverage containing chickpea protein hydrolysate in football players [3]. Participants received the chickpea protein hydrolysate beverage and a matched protein-containing placebo beverage during two four-week intervention periods separated by a two-week washout period [3]. The study assessed biochemical safety parameters, antioxidant status, inflammatory biomarkers, lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, muscle damage markers, dietary intake, and body composition [3]. The population was football players; the design was crossover and placebo-controlled.

Astaxanthin and muscle damage markers after eccentric arm exercise

Research examining whether astaxanthin could counteract exercise-induced muscle damage and improve exercise capacity reported inconsistent results [2]. A study was therefore designed to explore the impact of 4 weeks of supplementation with astaxanthin on muscle damage markers, total antioxidant status, and a subjective marker of muscle pain [2]. Twenty-four males were randomly assigned to the AX12 group (12 mg/day; n=8), the AX36 group (36 mg/day; n=9), or the placebo group (PLC; n=7) [2]. After 4 weeks of supplementation, blood samples were collected at rest, immediately after, and at 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours following eccentric arm exercise [2].

Group	Daily astaxanthin	n
AX12	12 mg/day	8
AX36	36 mg/day	9
PLC	Placebo	7

The population was twenty-four males; the model was eccentric arm exercise with blood sampling to 72 hours [2].

ccPT-SIL-NR and muscle damage markers after high-intensity exercise

A study aims to evaluate the effects of the dietary supplement ccPT-SIL-NR, which contains pterostilbene (ccPT), silybin (SIL), and nicotinamide riboside (NR), on oxidative stress markers after a high-intensity exercise session [1]. The primary objective is to assess changes in blood malondialdehyde (MDA) levels [1]. Secondary objectives include evaluating the effects on oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG), lipid peroxidation (F2-isoprostanes), total antioxidant capacity (FRAP assay), glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG), antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, CAT, GPx), inflammatory markers (hsCRP, MCP-1, IL-6), muscle damage markers (LDH, CK), cortisol levels, renal function (creatinine), and gene expression patterns [1].

Marker panels compared across the three studies

Study	Compound	Muscle damage markers named	Population / model
[3]	Chickpea protein hydrolysate	Muscle damage markers (panel not itemised in evidence block)	Football players; tournament
[2]	Astaxanthin	Muscle damage markers (panel not itemised in evidence block)	24 males; eccentric arm exercise
[1]	ccPT-SIL-NR	LDH, CK	High-intensity exercise session

Astaxanthin dose comparison and sampling schedule

The astaxanthin study compared two dose levels against placebo, with the sampling schedule extending to 72 hours after eccentric arm exercise [2]. The evidence block does not report outcome values for the muscle damage markers, so no comparison of effect between the AX12, AX36, and PLC groups can be stated here.

Chickpea protein hydrolysate and the crossover washout design

The chickpea protein hydrolysate trial used two four-week intervention periods separated by a two-week washout, with a matched protein-containing placebo beverage [3]. This design allows within-participant comparison across the active and placebo periods. The evidence block does not report the muscle damage marker results.

ccPT-SIL-NR and the secondary marker set

In the ccPT-SIL-NR study, LDH and CK are listed among the secondary objectives, alongside oxidative stress, inflammatory, cortisol, renal, and gene expression measures [1]. The primary objective is MDA, not a muscle damage marker [1].

Where the evidence is limited

All three entries in the evidence block are registered study records or study descriptions; none reports completed outcome data for the muscle damage markers in the text provided. No animal-only or in vitro data on these compounds and muscle damage markers appears in the evidence block, so no such claim is made here. The evidence block does not identify a peptide sequence, molecular formula, or molecular weight for any compound listed.

If you are reading this for personal health reasons

The materials described here are sold for laboratory research use only. We do not provide dosing or medical guidance, and nothing on this page is a recommendation to use any compound. Anyone considering a compound for themselves should speak to a licensed clinician.