Joint Mobility & Bone Health

Benefits of Bone Broth for Joint Mobility and Bone Health

As the human body ages, bones and joints can become affected. Loss of bone density can cause the bones to become brittle and more likely to break or fracture. Joint pain and inflammation can decrease mobility and movement.¹ Many patients are looking for non-pharmacological approaches to managing these conditions, and bone broth offers a nutrient-dense, food-based option.

Bone Broth & Osteoarthritis

While there are many arthritic diseases, the use of bone broth may be especially supportive for osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease that commonly affects the joints, including the ligaments, joint lining, and bone tissue. As there is no cure for OA, finding ways to manage pain and improve joint health is essential. Diet and nutritional supplements can play a part in the prevention and management of OA.  

Bone Broth & Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis occurs when bones become brittle, porous, and weak. While many risk factors and lifestyle behaviors can contribute to osteoporosis development, diet can play a significant role here as well. 

Our Bone Broths contain key nutrients^2–4 that have been shown to improve joint and bone health, including:

• Collagen
• Hylarunic acid
• Glucosamine
• Chondroitin

Collagen Benefits

Collagen Content in Bone Broth

It has been suggested that hydrolyzed collagen, as found in supplements and used in most clinical trials, may be more readily available for absorption than food-based collagen.⁹ However, the use of supplements is not without concern. Third-party testing organizations have found heavy metal contamination in many commercially available collagen supplements, which could put consumers at risk¹⁰. 

Kettle & Fire Bone Broths offer a safer way to ingest collagen. An independent study by ConsumerLab.com found that 82% of the protein content in Kettle and Fire Bone Broth was collagen and that it did not exceed the acceptable limits for lead, cadmium, and arsenic.⁴ ‍

Collagen & Osteoarthritis

As shown, bone broth is high in collagen. This nutrient is linked to substantial research suggesting it may offer help for those dealing with conditions of the joints and bones. The authors of a review investigating the use of collagen in the treatment of OA point out that oral collagen can significantly improve collagen biosynthesis in the cells responsible for cartilage formation (chondrocytes). 

Researchers concluded from their examination of both preclinical and clinical trials using collagen supplements that its ability to regenerate cartilage and reduce pain, while also being safe for consumption, makes it a reasonable solution for physicians to offer to their patients.⁵ 

A more recent review published in 2018 came to a similar conclusion. This meta-analysis examined 66 randomized placebo-controlled trials and concluded that collagen was able to significantly improve OA symptoms as assessed by either the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scale or the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). They point out that oral collagen use can suppress the development of joint damage, stimulate chondrocytes and promote hyaluronic acid synthesis.⁶ 

Collagen & Osteoporosis

Collagen may also have a beneficial effect on osteoporosis. The World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences published a review article pointing out that collagen has the potential to increase bone density. In vitro studies have shown that it can “enhance osteoblast differentiation in human cells” and increases bone density in the lumbar vertebrae of rats. ⁷

In 2021 the Journal of Bone Metabolism published a trial looking at the collagen in post-menopausal women in regard to bone health. In this follow-up study, after four years of collagen intake, women in this stage of life showed progressive improvements in bone mineral density without the side effects often seen with medications used to treat osteopenia and osteoporosis.⁸

Hyaluronic Acid Benefits

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural substance found in our bodies that lubricates and cushions our joints. It should be noted that bone broth is one of the few food sources that naturally contain hyaluronic acid, making it an ideal dietary intervention for people trying to manage osteoarthritis.

Oral intake has been shown to help with osteoarthritis pain. A 2016 review examined the use of oral HA for the management of knee pain in patients with OA. The authors propose that orally-ingested HA could reduce inflammation by modulating cytokines and inflammatory processes. They reviewed 13 relevant trials investigating the use of HA for OA pain of the knee, 9 of which were human trials. They concluded that supplementation with HA was not only safe, but an effective way to mitigate OA pain.¹¹

Glucosamine & Chondroitin Benefits

Glucosamine and Chondroitin are two natural compounds that make up part of our cartilage and help to cushion our joints. There are very few dietary sources of these two nutrients, but the connective tissue used to make bone broth offers a rich supply.  

Glucosamine & Osteoarthritis

Many trials show that glucosamine may help with osteoarthritis knee pain. A systematic review and meta-analysis examined 18 randomized controlled trials testing glucosamine in patients with osteoarthritis and concluded that it had a favorable effect on pain.¹²

Rheumatology International published a meta-analysis and review in 2018 that examined the results of 9 randomized placebo-controlled trials that compromised a total of 6,120 subjects and concluded that both were able to improve OA symptoms.¹³

Glucosamine & Osteoporosis

Glucosamine appears to offer some benefit in managing osteoporosis as well.
While human trials are limited, rat models of postmenopausal osteoporosis have been studied. Data reveals that glucosamine was able to positively impact bone strength and slow down bone loss, making this a promising candidate for further research on its role in non-pharmaceutical approaches to managing osteoporosis.¹⁴

Bone Broth Research

While most of the studies highlighted here focus on dietary supplements rather than food-based nutrients, an exciting trial demonstrated that daily intake of bone broth might play a role in bone healing in rabbits. Rabbits with an ulnar ostomy were given daily bone broth in addition to their regular diet or their regular diet without bone broth. After five weeks, the bone broth group showed significant improvements in bone healing compared with the group that did not receive bone broth.⁶ As this trial was in animals, further human studies are warranted. Still, the safety profile of bone broth and the density of nutrients that can positively impact skeletal health make it a logical food to include in a dietary plan aimed at improving bone and joint health.