Is Bone Broth Good for Psoriasis?

Partly: bone broth can help with hydration and provide some nutrients as part of a balanced diet for someone with psoriasis, but it has no proven effect on psoriasis inflammation or symptoms. No clinical trial in the evidence reviewed shows that bone broth improves psoriasis; the available study tested broth in a laboratory and in rats. Use it as a food, not a treatment, and check its sodium content and ingredients.

Is bone broth a good choice for psoriasis?

Bone broth can fit into a balanced eating pattern if you enjoy it and it meets your dietary needs. It is not necessary for managing psoriasis, and there is no established amount or schedule that improves the condition.

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease, so it is understandable to look for foods that might reduce inflammation. But a food that is nutritious or hydrating is not automatically a psoriasis treatment. For broader food choices, see the best foods for psoriasis.

How might bone broth affect psoriasis?

Bone broth supplies fluid, which helps maintain hydration. Staying hydrated supports normal body functions, but drinking bone broth has not been shown to clear plaques, prevent flares or change the course of psoriasis.

Some bone broth products also contain protein, including gelatin derived from collagen. The amount varies by product and preparation, so check the label rather than assuming every bone broth is a significant protein source. During digestion, collagen is broken down into smaller components; eating it does not deliver intact collagen directly to psoriasis plaques.

Claims that bone broth treats psoriasis by repairing a “leaky gut” are unproven. Although the gut and immune system interact, the evidence reviewed does not establish that bone broth repairs the gut or improves psoriasis through that pathway. Nor does bone broth need to “detox” the body: the liver and kidneys do most of that work, while the lungs and gut help eliminate waste.

What does the evidence say about bone broth and psoriasis?

The available evidence does not establish that bone broth treats psoriasis. We found no study that tested bone broth in people with psoriasis or measured changes in their skin symptoms.

In a 2018 laboratory and animal study, researchers examined enriched chicken bone broth and homemade broth in laboratory tests and studied responses in a rat model of jaw sensitivity. The enriched product showed greater inhibition of an inflammation-related enzyme in laboratory testing than the homemade broth.

Those findings are preliminary and concern a different condition, not psoriasis. A laboratory effect or an animal model cannot tell us whether drinking bone broth changes inflammation or symptoms in people with psoriasis. The enriched product also cannot be assumed to have the same composition or effects as ordinary homemade or packaged bone broth.

How can you use bone broth safely?

If you like bone broth, consider it an optional food rather than a supplement with a therapeutic dose. You can have it on its own or use it as a base for a meal. Choose a product that fits your usual eating pattern; adding bone broth is not a reason to replace a varied diet.

Compare labels before buying:

Follow the product’s storage instructions, refrigerate leftovers promptly and reheat them thoroughly. If you make bone broth at home, use safe food-handling practices and do not assume homemade bone broth has the same nutrient content as a packaged product.

If you notice symptoms after having bone broth, record what you consumed and when, along with any skin changes, and discuss the pattern with your clinician. Timing alone does not prove the broth caused a flare. For more on beverages and the condition, see the best drinks for psoriasis.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

If you have high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney disease, check the sodium label and ask your clinician how bone broth fits your dietary plan. If you have been told to limit fluids, count bone broth toward that limit. Avoid products containing ingredients to which you are allergic.

Pregnant people, children and people taking immune-suppressing medicines should pay particular attention to safe preparation and storage. Ask a clinician about individual dietary or food-safety concerns, especially if the person is medically vulnerable.

Do not stop or change prescribed psoriasis medicines in favor of bone broth. A clinician or dermatologist can help assess persistent or worsening symptoms and discuss appropriate treatment. Contact a clinician promptly about new painful, swollen or stiff joints, which may need evaluation for psoriatic arthritis.

Seek urgent medical care for rapidly worsening, widespread skin redness or pustules, especially with fever, chills or feeling very unwell. These symptoms need medical assessment rather than a dietary remedy.