Eatery Offers "Collagen Cuisine" To Improve Skin Complexion

(CBS 5) - A London chef has rolled out an "Eat Yourself Beautiful" menu with dishes made with collagen jelly protein – concoctions he claims improves the skin appearance of age-conscious diners.

Chef Ian Pengelley introduced the collagen cuisine at his pan-Asian restaurant in North London.

While the menu calls it the latest beauty fix on a plate, some dermatologists aren't convinced about this newest collagen craze.

"When you ingest collagen, it will be broken down so there is no clear pathway for the collagen that's broken down in the food to somehow be transported to the skin," said Dr. Jeffery Weinberg, a dermatologist at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.

Collagen must be injected deep into the skin to have an effect, according to Dr. Weinberg.

Pengelley said Japanese women swear by edible collagen and claim the powerful protein gives them a more youthful complexion.

The collagen diet won't hurt you, but drinking water and eating healthy foods are the best recipe for staying young, according to doctors.

90 percent of the diners trying his collagen menu are women, said Pengelley. He is now working on a new creation -- a collagen cocktail.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)