Collagen is an essential protein found in animals, and porcine collagen, derived from pigs, is gaining popularity for its nutritional benefits. This article examines what porcine collagen is, its historical importance and its resurgence in modern diets.
What is collagen?
Collagen is a protein found in all animals, including humans. It acts as the “glue” that holds everything together and provides structure to the body. The highest concentrations of collagen are in connective tissues, bones and skin. This unprocessed collagen is commonly called ‘native collagen’.
Native collagen vs collagen peptides
Native collagen is hard to digest. So, for it to have nutritional value, it must be processed into collagen peptides for bioavailability. This process, known as hydrolyzation, breaks down the molecular bonds between collagen strands into small peptides that can be digested and absorbed by the body.These peptides are then used in various supplements that help support skin, bones and joints.
What is porcine collagen?
Pork is currently one of the most popular meats in the world, accounting for 38% of the world’s meat intake1. Porcine collagen is derived from pigs, particularly the bones and skin and is integral to our diets.
Although porcine collagen might not be well-known, "pork gelatin" is a familiar term, often used as a gelling agent in confectionery and jello. This substance is derived from porcine collagen and contributes to the jelly-like texture of jello. When boiling a ham hock or pork shoulder in a stew or soup, the liquid can turn into a jelly as it cools, which is essentially gelatin.
This gelatin is rich in porcine collagen peptides and is more bioavailable than native pork collagen. However, its digestibility is lower compared to pure collagen peptides.
Porcine collagen: a nutrient baked into our history
Archeological evidence suggests that pigs were one of the first domesticated animals in human history, a development which probably came about as a result of wild boar hunting. Considering the fact that porcine collagen is extracted and made more digestible by the cooking process, and the fact that humans have been cooking pork for tens of thousands of years, it’s safe to say that porcine collagen has been a part of our diets since time immemorial.
Our ancestors benefited greatly from the consumption of porcine collagen as it contributed to optimum joint and bone health which gave them the kind of athletic boost needed to survive in the wild and establish civilizations all over the world.
How porcine collagen evolved into savory delights
Over the millennia, the struggle for survival meant people couldn’t afford to be wasteful. Our ancestors used the whole pig, including trotters, bones and connective tissues such as cartilage—all of which contain high levels of collagen. These were boiled to create nutrient-dense broths and stews. The collagen made them thick and creamy, providing warmth and comfort on cold winter days.
As civilization progressed, people discovered they could extract collagen from these thickened broths and use it as an ingredient. This eventually led to the creation of aspic, a savoury jelly that became the foundation for a variety of dishes worldwide. One such dish is brawn, also known as head cheese, which originated in Europe and spread globally.
Brawn is made by setting meat, typically flesh, in aspic. It is then sliced and eaten, giving rise to the name ‘head cheese’. Variations of brawn exist worldwide—the Vietnamese have thịt nấu đông and Russian kholodets, which is popular during Christmas, are just a few examples. Aspic is also found in other well-known dishes, such as pâté en croute in France and pork pie in Britain.
Aspic is not the only way people are keeping the tradition alive
In East Asia, pork products are extremely popular, making porcine collagen a regular part of the diet. Here are a few examples:
- In Okinawa, pork is slow-cooked, providing a healthy dose of collagen.
- Ramen, a popular noodle broth in Japan, contains high levels of collagen due to the large amount of pork bones used in its preparation.
- In China, pig trotters, which contain a lot of collagen, are very popular.
Pig trotters are making a comeback in Britain
Up until the mid-20th century, pig trotters were popular among working-class Brits. However, they fell out of favor due to the perception that they were cheap cuts from undesirable parts of the animal. According to the BBC, pig trotters are making a comeback in Britain, leading to an indirect resurgence of porcine collagen.
The resurgence of pig trotters continues
Dietary collagen in highly valued today, as seen in the recent trend of bone broth. Like their ancestors, people are consuming collagen-rich broths to enhance their diets while enjoying wholesome, comforting flavors. This trend is helping drive the resurgence of porcine collagen in the West, as people making homemade broths and soups turn to affordable staples such as pig trotters, bones and cheeks—rediscovering their rich taste and nutritional benefits.
Pork is an important source of collagen peptides in Japan—particularly among women—who actively seek them for their numerous health and beauty benefits. Pretty much every Japanese drugstore stocks a wide array of collagen supplements in different forms, ranging from specially formulated drinks to versatile powders that can be used in different ways. Much of this supplementation is derived from porcine collagen, which, owing to the prominence of pork in Japanese cuisine, is generally accepted as being a fantastic source of collagen peptides.
The importance of source, safety and traceability
When purchasing porcine collagen, quality, safety and traceability are essential. To ensure the cleanest, most effective and most ethical collagen peptides, the source-collagen must undergo a rigorous quality control process. This means the pigs must be raised with high welfare standards, and the manufacturing processes must meet the highest industry standards.
One of the best places to source porcine collagen is Europe, where strict rules safeguard pig welfare. These rules ensure that pig feed consists of plant-based materials like roughage, wheat, maize, corn and soy.
Finally, while many brands make claims about provenance, proving them is crucial. Demonstrable traceability is essential to ensuring that porcine-derived collagen peptides truly meet the highest standards.
Sources:
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262881.php
- https://www.foodindustry.com/articles/pork-is-the-most-consumed-meat-worldwide
- https://www.bonappetit.com/story/what-is-gelatin
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooking#History
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspic#History
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspic#Asia
- https://natashaskitchen.com/ukrainian-aspic-recipe-kholodets/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_cheese
- https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A2t%C3%A9_en_cro%C3%BBte
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/okinawa-blue-zone_b_7012042?fbclid=IwAR3lGejTlwY0bFoIYjFkQfHexsOByVyKDq7-JKs_Ttx2yVO1r0HRgGFOQ6A
- http://foodmayhem.com/2011/04/pigs-feet-and-peanut-soup.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig%27s_trotters
- https://www.chinesefoodsrecipe.com/the-best-and-most-surprising-food-for-healthy-skin-braised-pork-feet.html