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Valorisation of fish scales and bones: a sustainable source of bioactive proteins and collagen for nutraceuticals

Summary

Fish scales and bones, usually thrown away as waste, contain valuable collagen and proteins that can improve skin, joints, and overall health. New extraction methods can recover these beneficial compounds efficiently while being environmentally friendly. Studies show that taking fish collagen supplements daily can improve skin appearance, reduce joint pain, and lower blood pressure, making them a sustainable and natural health solution.

Background

Fish scales and bones are traditionally regarded as seafood waste but represent abundant sources of collagen and bioactive proteins. These tissues contain 30-40% organic collagen matrix and 60-70% hydroxyapatite minerals, making them rich substrates for recovery with high nutraceutical potential.

Objective

This review evaluates the biochemical structure, extraction procedures, bioactivity, and potential applications of collagen and functional proteins from fish scales and bones in nutraceuticals and sustainable seafood industry practices.

Results

Advanced green extraction methods achieve collagen yields of 25-35% while preserving triple-helix structure. Enzymatically derived peptides demonstrate antioxidant capacities comparable to or exceeding vitamins C and E, ACE-inhibitory properties for blood pressure reduction, and clinical improvements in skin hydration and joint pain with 10g daily supplementation for 8-12 weeks.

Conclusion

Fish scales and bones represent promising sustainable raw materials for next-generation nutraceuticals when processed with advanced extraction technologies. Despite scalability and regulatory challenges, valorization of these by-products supports circular bioeconomy principles while providing significant health benefits and environmental sustainability.
  • Published in:Bioresource and Bioprocessing,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 41335283, DOI: 10.1186/s40643-025-00970-w
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