Bromelain
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Summary of Bromelain
Primary information, health benefits, side effects, usage, and other important details
Bromelain, also called ‘pineapple extract,’ is a combination of several compounds, including a large amount of a special protein-digesting enzyme. This enzyme is able to be digested and thus affect the blood and body, rather than just the stomach and intestines.
When Bromelain is in the stomach, it will help the body break down and digest protein. Supplementation of bromelain can also reduce nasal inflammation, meaning it acts as a decongestant.
If taken between meals, bromelain can benefit the immune system and protect the body from cancer. Bromelain’s effects on fat cells are also under investigation, with promising preliminary evidence.
Bromelain’s anti-inflammatory properties are responsible for several of its effects, including its ability to decongest the nasal cavity. Further research is needed to determine the mechanism through which bromelain survives the digestive system.
There are many anecdotes that say bromelain supplementation will cause semen to taste like pineapple, but no studies have tested this claim.
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The standard dose for bromelain depends on the goal of supplementation. If the goal is to aid digestion, the standard dose is between 200 – 2,000mg, taken with a meal.
If the goal of supplementation is not digestion related, does range from 200 - 800mg.
Bromelain is typically taken between meals to avoid potential degradation in the stomach. The large range for the standard dose is due to the variations in the enzymatic potential of bromelain, which is standardized by milk clotting units (MCU), or gelatin dissolving units (GDU).
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Human Effect Matrix
The Human Effect Matrix looks at human studies (it excludes animal and in vitro studies) to tell you what effects bromelain has on your body, and how strong these effects are.
| Grade | Level of Evidence [show legend] |
|---|---|
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Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials |
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Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled |
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Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies |
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Uncontrolled or observational studies only |
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Level of Evidence
?
The amount of high quality evidence. The more
evidence, the more we can trust the results.
|
Outcome |
Magnitude of effect
?
The direction and size of the supplement's impact on
each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect.
|
Consistency of research results
?
Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or
VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.
|
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Minor
|
- See 2 studies |
It is possible bromelain might reduce muscle soreness, but currently the evidence does not support this claim (although the trial to note a failure of bromelain also noted a failure with Ibuprofen, a known active drug)
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|
|
|
- | - See study |
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|
|
|
- | - See study |
No significant influence on symptoms of osteoarthritis when tested
|
|
|
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Minor
|
- See study |
Requires more evidence, but at the moment appears somewhat effective
|
|
|
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Minor
|
- See study |
The potency at this moment in time does not appear remarkable.
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|
|
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Minor
|
- See study |
Minor improvements in well being secondary to reducing joint pain
|
Studies Excluded from Consideration
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Things to Note
Is a Form Of
Other Functions:
Primary Function:
Also Known As
Pineapple extract
Goes Well With
Certain anti-biotics (see Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions), may increase bioavailability
Dietary protein (if suffering from dyspepsia)
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Pineapple makes semen taste like pineapple according to anecdotes; Bromelain contains pineapple aromatics and may do this as well
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Depending on why you are supplementing Bromelain, you may want to take it with a meal or without; please take note of the 'How to Take' section for dosing
If left in solution for too long, Bromelain might auto-digest. It would not be advisable to mix it into a drink and leave it alone for prolonged periods of time
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