The History of Collagen: From Bone Broth and Gelatin to Modern Peptides

Collagen powders may look modern, but people have been extracting collagen from animal bones and skin for thousands of years. Every time someone simmered a pot of bone broth or set a jellied dish, they were working with collagen. Here's the story.

What is collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It gives structure to skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue. When collagen is heated in water for a long time, it breaks down into gelatin. When it's broken down further into small pieces, it becomes hydrolyzed collagen, also called collagen peptides.

Ancient glue and broth

Some of the earliest uses of collagen weren't for food at all. Early peoples boiled animal hides and bones to make glue for tools and crafts, and the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder described methods for making strong glues from animal materials.

Broths and jellied dishes made by slowly simmering bones, hooves, and skin have appeared in cuisines around the world for centuries. A 14th-century French cookbook, the Viandier of Taillevent (around 1375), includes a recipe for jellied meat broth, a dish that depends on gelatin from collagen.^[1]

Denis Papin and the "bone digester"

In 1681, French inventor Denis Papin developed a new method for extracting gelatin by boiling bones under pressure.^[1] His "digester" was a forerunner of the modern pressure cooker. It made extracting nutrition from bones far faster and more efficient, which was significant at a time when food was scarce for many people.

By the 19th century, gelatin production had become a full industry, supplying food, glue, and later photography and pharmaceuticals.^[1]

From gelatin to collagen peptides

In the 20th century, manufacturers developed enzymatic processes to break collagen into much smaller pieces. Unlike gelatin, these hydrolyzed peptides dissolve easily in hot or cold liquids and don't gel, which made today's collagen powders possible.^[1]

What modern research shows

Collagen supplements have been studied mostly for skin, and the research is an active debate:

• A 2023 meta-analysis in Nutrients pooled 26 randomized controlled trials with about 1,700 participants and found that hydrolyzed collagen improved skin hydration and elasticity compared with placebo. The authors also noted biases in some studies and called for larger trials.^[2]
• A 2025 meta-analysis in The American Journal of Medicine pooled 23 trials and also found benefits overall, but when the authors looked only at high-quality studies or studies not funded by industry, they found no significant effect.^[3]

The honest takeaway: results are encouraging, but the evidence is still being debated, and more independent, high-quality research is needed. For more on the science, read Collagen Peptides Explained.

How the FDA regulates collagen

Collagen powders are sold as dietary supplements in the US. Under DSHEA (1994), the FDA does not approve supplements for safety or effectiveness before they are marketed; manufacturers are responsible for safety and labeling.^[4]

Safety notes

• Collagen supplements are generally well tolerated. Some people notice mild digestive upset or a feeling of fullness.
• Check the source if you have allergies or dietary restrictions. Collagen can come from cows, pigs, fish, or chicken.
• Collagen is not a complete protein, so it shouldn't replace other protein sources in your diet.

The bottom line

From ancient glue pots and medieval jellied broths to Papin's bone digester and modern collagen peptides, people have been using collagen for a very long time. Science is still working out exactly what collagen supplements can do, and we think that's worth being honest about.

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Sources

1. Gelatin as It Is: History and Modernity. NIH PubMed Central.
2. Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2023;15(9):2080.
3. Myung SK, Park Y. Effects of Collagen Supplements on Skin Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Med. 2025;138(9):1264–1277.
4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This content is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Historical and traditional uses are described for context only.