Bone broth may not sound like the most appetising thing in the world, but fans of the stuff claim it can offer plenty of benefits. It’s made by boiling the bones and connective tissue of animals with vinegar to draw out the nutrients found in these leftovers; bone broth typically contains amino acids such as glycine and proline, as well as minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

One of the reasons that bone broth is lauded online is to do with its supposed gut health benefits – but research into this area is limited. As stands, there has been one primary study into the direct benefits of bone broth for gut health carried out on mice. Published in 2021, the study found that bone broth could provide an anti-inflammatory benefit in mice with ulcerative colitis (an inflammatory bowel disease), reducing symptoms of the condition in the process.

One other mice-based study – published in 2018 – found that gelatine (of which bone broth is a source) may protect and heal the mucosal lining of the digestive tract.

These studies do provide a basis for some of the claims surrounding bone broth online, specifically when it comes to the benefits of the amino acids it contains. In particular, glycine and proline act as building blocks for collagen. Collagen is responsible for a whole host of jobs around the body, but its ability to help heal and maintain the gut lining is the main reason why it’s often linked to gut health (although it actually goes anywhere in the body that needs it). If it’s able to travel that far without getting used up, collagen can prevent the gut lining from leaking nutrients into the surrounding areas. It’s also thought to reduce inflammation and increase nutrient absorption.

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