People rarely think about animal bones, much less what’s inside them. Bone marrow can be found in animals like cows, goats, sheep, and even chicken. The marrow (especially that of beef) can be found in bone-in cuts of meat purchased from a butcher or supermarket. Bone marrow is a type of spongy tissue in the centre of bones. It’s most concentrated in the spine, hip, and thigh bones with sweet flavour and a smooth texture. Bone marrow can also be used to make bone broth or spread over bread, roasted vegetables, or meat dishes. It has a rich, slightly sweet flavour with a smooth texture and is often served alongside toast or used as a base for soup. Erick Musengimana, a nutritionist at Rwanda Diabetes Association in Kigali, says when it comes to nutritional benefits, bone marrow is rich in vitamin B12. He explains that in general, the body requires vitamin B12 to create DNA and to build amino acids and proteins, which is essential to every part of our metabolism. However, he says, the body can’t make B12, that’s because B12 is made by bacteria; we can either get it by taking pills containing B12 produced by bacteria or by eating animal products, since the animals get B12 from the unique bacteria in their guts. He says bone marrow happens to be particularly rich in this important nutrient; therefore, consuming it can be beneficial. Besides, nutritionists say bone marrow when eaten also helps in boosting one’s energy because it manufactures red blood cells and other key cells in your body. Bone marrow is an energy-producing powerhouse. It contains essential B vitamins like pantothenic acid, thiamine, and biotin which support metabolism and energy production. It contains a substantial amount of good fats and energy. For instance, a 100 gm serving portion of bone marrow contains as much as 84.4 gm of lipid fats and supplies 786 kilocalorie (kcal) of energy. It is also a good source of proteins with 100 gm of bone marrow providing 6.7 gm of proteins. All in all, bone marrow is a nutrient-rich food and can boost any meal. Musengimana says it has been proven that bone marrow is also rich in collagen, the most abundant protein in the body. Supplementing your diet with collagen is thought to promote skin health and reduce joint pain as well. Moreover, bone marrow produced from cows, goats, and sheep contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a type of fat that could decrease inflammation and enhance immune function. Several compounds in bone marrow are thought to optimise joint health. For example, glucosamine is a compound found in cartilage that’s often used as a natural remedy for osteoarthritis due to its ability to reduce inflammation and relieve joint pain. Also, collagen can support the production of joint cartilage to help maintain joint function as well. Although short-term inflammation is a crucial part of the body’s defence system, chronic inflammation is thought to contribute to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Glycine, a type of protein found in bone marrow, has shown powerful anti-inflammatory properties in multiple test-tube studies and may help reduce inflammation in the body. Different studies have established that the fat tissue of bone marrow contains a hormone called adiponectin that ensures smooth digestion of food, regulates the level of insulin, and lowers the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
