Bone Broth For Gut And Bone Health

Bone broth is a traditional food made by simmering animal bones, typically from chicken, beef, or fish, for 8–24 hours. This broth is often simmered alongside vegetables, aromatics and other spices for depth and flavor. This slow cooking process releases collagen, amino acids, and minerals into the liquid. The result is a nourishing warm broth that is rich in essential nutrients, which can be consumed on its own or used as a base for soups, sauces, and stews.

Reviewing The Literature

A 2025 review in Digestive Diseases and Sciences, drawing on both animal and human studies, reported that bone broth contains abundant amino acids—particularly glutamine, glycine, proline, histidine, and arginine—as well as minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. These nutrients play important roles in maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, regulating immune function, and controlling inflammation.

Interest in gut health has grown substantially in recent years, as researchers work to better understand how the intestinal ecosystem influences overall health. Amino acids found in bone broth (e.g. glutamine and glycine) are especially important for maintaining the intestinal lining and moderating inflammatory responses. Evidence suggests that components of bone broth may help reduce intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”), support repair of the gut barrier, and improve nutrient absorption. These effects are particularly relevant in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), where chronic inflammation damages the intestinal lining. Some reviews propose that bone broth may help maintain remission in IBD and could have potential relevance for functional diarrhea, although more rigorous human trials are still needed.

New Research In Gut Health

Experimental research adds further support. A 2025 study published in Medicina evaluated beef bone broth in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis, a form of chronic IBD. In this experiment, mice consumed bone broth freely for 10 days before colitis was triggered. Examination of colon tissue showed less visible damage and inflammation in the bone broth group. Levels of pro-inflammatory markers—including IL-1β (down 61%), IL-6 (down 95%), and TNF-α (down 69%)—were significantly reduced, while anti-inflammatory markers such as IL-4 and IL-10 increased. In simple terms, this means that bone broth appeared to shift the immune response away from an inflammatory state toward a more balanced one. The researchers also found that amino acids made up the majority of the broth’s nutrients, with more than half classified as essential amino acids (meaning they must be obtained through diet).

Benefits For Skin & Bones

Bone broth may also support skeletal health. It contains collagen, a structural protein found in bone, cartilage, and connective tissue, along with calcium and phosphorus, which are critical for maintaining bone density and supporting repair.  Additionally, the high collagen and amino acid profile in bone broth makes it helpful for boosting skin elasticity, hydration, and firmness. 

Although bone broth is not a cure-all, current evidence suggests it is a nutrient-dense whole food that may complement conventional care and potentially serve as a food-based alternative to some gut-health supplements.