Chicken feet and unflavored gelatin: Real sources of collagen?

A growing trend on social media promotes consuming chicken feet and unflavored gelatin as a way to regain lost collagen. This has led to rapid depletion of unflavored gelatin from supermarket shelves and increased interest in chicken feet, particularly among women over 50.

“

During digestion, the collagen breaks down into amino acids and small peptides that the organism uses according to its needs.

However, Dr. Sumaya Rodríguez Heinsen, a specialist in Clinical Nutrition, Aesthetic Medicine, and Anti-aging, cautions against this belief. She explains that consuming collagen-rich foods does not mean the collagen directly benefits the skin, joints, or bones. "During digestion, collagen breaks down into amino acids and small peptides that the body uses according to its needs," she stated.

The available scientific evidence does not demonstrate that eating chicken feet, gelatin, or other collagen-rich foods significantly increases the body's collagen production or reverses the signs of aging. While these foods have nutritional value, attributing unproven properties to them is misleading. The specialist emphasizes that there is no specific method for consuming collagen-rich foods that has been proven to enhance their absorption.

“

The scientific evidence available has not demonstrated that eating chicken feet, gelatin, or other foods rich in collagen significantly increases the body's collagen production or reverses the signs of aging.

While the recommendation to pair collagen-rich foods with vitamin C has a nutritional basis, it's not a magic formula for boosting collagen absorption. Vitamin C is essential for normal collagen synthesis, so maintaining adequate levels supports this physiological process. The doctor advises incorporating citrus fruits, guava, kiwi, strawberries, papaya, peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli into the diet, along with quality proteins, zinc, and copper. However, indiscriminately increasing vitamin C intake is not beneficial.

“

Vitamin C is an indispensable cofactor for the normal synthesis of collagen.