Q: I’ve heard that bone broth has a ton of health benefits. Is there any truth to that?

On TikTok, influencers and medical professionals seem to agree: Bone broth does a body good.

Drinking the golden-brown elixir, they say, can alleviate joint pain, soothe digestive discomforts and smooth skin, among other benefits.

There’s a little science behind these claims, but important caveats, too. Here’s what to know.

What is bone broth?

Bone broth is made by simmering meaty bones for many hours, said Rachael Mamane, the former owner of a small batch stock company called Brooklyn Bouillon and the author of the cookbook “Mastering Stocks and Broths.” Often, cooks use bones from beef, pork or chicken, especially those with joints and with connective tissue still attached.

It’s similar to other types of broth or stock in terms of ingredients and taste, and any of them can be a base for soups or stews. But bone broth is typically distinguished by its use of those meaty joint bones, longer cooking time and the health benefits ascribed to it.

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The hours of simmering help extract more protein from the bones and connective tissue than is typically found in other broths and stocks, Ms. Mamane said.

A carton of chicken bone broth made by the brand Pacific Foods, for example, contains nine grams of protein per serving, whereas its chicken stock has six grams and its chicken broth has one gram.

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