Do You Get Collagen From Bones? The Science of Bone Broth

January 11, 2026 •

4 min read

Animal bones are exceptionally rich in Type I collagen, which makes up to 90% of their organic matrix. However, simply eating them won't work; the key to accessing this vital protein and its amino acids is to cook the bones slowly, a process that creates gelatin.

Quick Summary

Simmering animal bones releases gelatin, a form of broken-down collagen that the body can use. This creates nutrient-rich bone broth, which provides the amino acids needed to support skin, joint, and bone health.

Key Points

Cooking is necessary: Simmering animal bones breaks down tough collagen into digestible gelatin and peptides.
Bone broth is the vehicle: The liquid created from cooking bones is the most common way to consume this extracted collagen.
Type I is most abundant: Bones are primarily composed of Type I collagen, which is released during the broth-making process.
Absorption through amino acids: The body doesn't absorb intact collagen, but rather the smaller amino acids and peptides derived from it.
Homemade vs. supplements: While bone broth offers a broad spectrum of nutrients, supplements can provide a higher, more consistent dose of collagen peptides.
Nutrient co-factors are key: The presence of nutrients like Vitamin C and zinc, found in a balanced diet, is crucial for your body to synthesize its own collagen from the amino acid building blocks.

The Transformative Power of Simmering Bones

Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals and a key structural component of bones, skin, tendons, and cartilage. In its raw, fibrous form within a bone, collagen is not easily digestible by the human body. This is where the ancient culinary practice of making bone broth comes in. The prolonged simmering of animal bones in water, often with a splash of acid like vinegar, triggers a crucial chemical transformation. The heat breaks down the tough connective tissues, causing the intricate collagen protein strands to unravel and dissolve into a substance known as gelatin. This gelatin is essentially cooked collagen and represents the first step in making the protein available for absorption.

How Your Body Utilizes Collagen from Bones

When you consume gelatin from bone broth, your digestive system further breaks it down. The stomach’s acid and enzymes convert the gelatin into smaller protein fragments called peptides, and individual amino acids. These peptides and amino acids are then absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal wall. Your body then uses these building blocks to synthesize new collagen or other proteins wherever they are needed. This process is influenced by the presence of other nutrients, such as vitamin C and zinc, which play co-factor roles in collagen production.

The Rich Nutritional Profile of Bone Broth

While often celebrated for its collagen, bone broth is a nutritional powerhouse containing far more than just gelatin. The long cooking time allows for the extraction of a variety of beneficial compounds. Depending on the bones used, a well-made broth can provide:

Amino Acids: A wide array of amino acids, particularly glycine and proline, which are essential building blocks for collagen synthesis.
Minerals: Small but valuable quantities of essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. The addition of acid during cooking helps draw these minerals out of the bones.
Other Proteins: Beyond collagen, bone marrow and other tissues contribute additional proteins and fats.

Bone Broth vs. Collagen Supplements: A Comparison

Choosing between consuming bone broth and taking a collagen supplement is a common debate. Both have their merits, and the best choice depends on individual health goals and preferences. Here is a comparison to help illustrate the differences:


Feature	Homemade Bone Broth	Collagen Supplements (Powders)
Collagen Content	Variable; depends on bones, cooking time, etc. Generally lower than supplements.	High and consistent; concentrated source.
Absorption	Contains a bioavailable form (gelatin/peptides) along with other synergistic nutrients.	Engineered for high bioavailability (hydrolyzed collagen/peptides).
Nutrient Profile	Rich in a broad spectrum of nutrients including minerals, amino acids, and fats.	Primarily focused on collagen peptides, often lacks other vitamins and minerals.
Purity/Regulation	Source and purity depends on the quality of bones used.	Not FDA-regulated for safety or effectiveness; some products may contain heavy metals.
Cost	Relatively inexpensive; uses readily available parts of animals.	Can be expensive, especially for high-quality brands.
Health Benefits	Holistic benefits from the combination of nutrients.	Targeted effects, primarily focused on skin, hair, nails, and joints due to high peptide concentration.

Making Your Own Bone Broth for Max Collagen Extraction

To get the maximum amount of collagen from bones, a slow-and-low cooking method is best. The goal is to simmer the bones long enough for the collagen to break down into gelatin. Here is a simple process:

Roast the bones: For beef or other large bones, roasting them first can add flavor. Place them on a baking sheet and bake at a high temperature for about 30 minutes.
Add to pot: Put the roasted bones in a large stockpot and cover them with water. For maximum collagen extraction, consider using a variety of bones, including those with more cartilage like chicken feet or knuckles.
Include an acid: Add 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to the water. The acid helps to draw the collagen and other minerals out of the bones.
Simmer for a long time: Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cook for at least 10-24 hours. The longer the simmering time, the more concentrated the broth will be.
Strain and store: Once finished, strain the broth to remove all solids. Let it cool; it should have a gelatinous texture when chilled. This indicates a high gelatin content. Store in the fridge or freezer.

Conclusion

So, do you get collagen from bones? Yes, you do, but not by simply eating them. Through the process of simmering, collagen is converted into gelatin and then further broken down into peptides and amino acids that your body can absorb. While collagen supplements offer a concentrated dose, homemade bone broth provides a holistic range of nutrients, including minerals and amino acids, that support your body's natural collagen production. The key takeaway is that cooking bones is the necessary step to unlock their collagen potential, and homemade bone broth remains a natural and nourishing way to do so.

One resource that explains the chemical process in more detail can be found on the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's nutrition source(https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/collagen/).

Frequently Asked Questions

Collagen is the large, fibrous protein found in animal connective tissue. Gelatin is what collagen becomes when it is cooked and broken down. Therefore, gelatin is essentially cooked collagen.

Yes, bone broth made by simmering bones for an extended period contains collagen in the form of gelatin. A tell-tale sign of a high-quality broth is that it gels when chilled.

Some argue that the holistic combination of nutrients in bone broth, including synergistic vitamins and minerals, makes it highly bioavailable and beneficial. Supplements, however, offer a concentrated and highly processed form of collagen peptides designed for quick absorption.

No, natural collagen is exclusively derived from animal sources. Vegetarians and vegans can support their body's natural collagen production by eating foods rich in collagen co-factors like vitamin C, zinc, and the amino acids glycine and proline.

Adding a small amount of an acid, such as apple cider vinegar, to your bone broth helps to break down the bones and connective tissue more efficiently, drawing out more collagen and minerals into the liquid.

Collagen is present throughout the bone matrix, but higher concentrations are found in the connective tissues like ligaments, tendons, and cartilage attached to the bones. Using bones with more of these tissues, such as joints and feet, can increase the collagen yield.

The amino acids from bone broth may support joint and bone health, improve skin elasticity, and aid in gut health by helping to repair the gut lining.