What Is Bromelain?
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Medically reviewed by Jamie Johnson, RDN
Bromelain is a mix of enzymes found in pineapple. Also known as pineapple extract, bromelain is in both the pineapple fruit and pineapple plant’s stem.
As pineapple was originally native to the Americas, people in Central and South America often used it to ease digestive disorders. Now, bromelain is available in tablets, capsules, and creams and is thought to help with a variety of conditions due to its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
Dietary supplements are minimally regulated by the FDA and may or may not be suitable for you. The effects of supplements vary from person to person and depend on many variables, including type, dosage, frequency of use, and interactions with current medications. Please speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting any supplements.
Benefits of Bromelain
While human-based research on bromelain’s benefits is limited, a few claims have promising studies behind them.
Relieves Arthritis Pain
Bromelain is often used as a natural remedy for relieving joint pain and stiffness that comes with arthritis. Research shows bromelain acts as a pain reliever that works similarly to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil (ibuprofen).
Clinical studies have found bromelain to be an effective pain reliever for osteoarthritis, particularly when the arthritis affects the knee.
May Relieve Pain After Dental Surgery
Bromelain may help ease pain after dental surgery.
Research has found that people who took bromelain after having their wisdom teeth removed experienced less pain in the first week after the surgery. Those who took bromelain also reported eating and sleeping better after surgery.
Other research has shown taking bromelain reduces swelling. However, the research has been mixed on how effective the supplement is in reducing pain and swelling after wisdom tooth removal.
Relieves Sinusitis
Bromelain is thought to help relieve sinusitis, or swelling in the lining of the sinuses, due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Some research has shown bromelain may reduce swelling in the nasal passages. The enzyme might also reduce mucus and improve drainage. Other research shows limited evidence that bromelain can improve breathing, relieve congestion, and reduce coughing.
However, more research is needed to determine how effective a treatment bromelain is for sinus swelling.
Helps Treat Burns
Bromelain may help treat burns in a medical setting by acting as an alternative to surgery for removing dead skin from the burns.
Clinical studies have used bromelain in the form of a topical gel to perform the removal. This research has shown promise as an effective and faster method for skin removal with potentially less risks than surgery.
However, the method has not yet been shown to offer better quality of life or reduce the amount of scarring. More testing is needed to confirm this benefit.
How to Take Bromelain
Bromelain is available as an oral supplement or topical application. The enzyme is extracted from the pineapple or the pineapple plant’s stem and then ultra-processed and purified for consumer use.
You can get some bromelain by eating pineapple and its juice. However, bromelain is most concentrated in the inedible parts of the pineapple, like the stem. The easiest way to get the benefits of bromelain is to take it in the form of a supplement.
Dosage
There are no current standard guidelines for a recommended dose of bromelain. Orally, people typically take 40-400 milligrams of bromelain daily for up to 13 months.
It’s best to follow the manufacturer’s dosage instructions when taking bromelain as a supplement or using it topically. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any additional questions.
Is Bromelain Safe?
Bromelain is considered safe for most people, especially when taken orally and in recommended doses. However, there are a few groups who may want to avoid the supplement.
People who are allergic or sensitive to pineapple should not take bromelain supplements.
Bromelain has not been thoroughly tested in children or in people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, so those groups should also avoid the supplement.
Also, bromelain has the potential to cause excess bleeding. If you have had or plan to have surgery, it is best to avoid taking the supplement in the weeks leading up to and after surgery, unless specifically recommended by your surgeon.
Potential Drug Interactions
Bromelain can affect the absorption of some medications. Tell your healthcare provider about any medications or supplements you use. Medications that may interact with bromelain include:
Antibiotics: Bromelain can cause your body to absorb too much of an antibiotic medication, such as amoxicillin and tetracycline.
Chemotherapy drugs: Bromelain can cause your body to absorb too much of a chemotherapy drug.
Blood pressure medication: Bromelain can cause your body to absorb too much of a blood pressure medication, specifically angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
Blood thinners: Since bromelain can cause excess bleeding, it is risky to take the supplement along with blood thinners like antiplatelets or anticoagulants.
Other herbal supplements like ginkgo biloba and garlic might also increase risk of bleeding when paired with bromelain.
Certain foods like potato and soy are considered enzyme inhibitors, so they might lessen the effectiveness of bromelain. The supplement zinc may have a similar effect.
What to Look For
When buying a bromelain supplement, it’s important to compare products and look closely at the label. The concentration of bromelain and suggested dose might vary by brand.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the same way that it regulates medications. This means the FDA does not review dietary supplements to make sure they are safe and effective before the products are marketed for sale.
Look for a product that a third-party organization has tested for quality. Typically, you can find this information on the product’s bottle or the company’s website.
Third-party groups test dietary supplements to determine if they contain the ingredients they claim to contain. These testing organizations include ConsumerLab.com, NSF International, and U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).
Can You Take Too Much Bromelain?
Bromelain appears to be safe for most people except when taken in very large doses.
When you take too much bromelain, you may experience symptoms like:
Digestive issues
Palpitation
Loss of appetite
Headache
Muscle pain
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Heavy periods
Side Effects of Bromelain
Overall, bromelain seems to be well-tolerated when taken in recommended doses. In some cases, bromelain can lead to adverse side effects. The most common side effects when taking bromelain orally are:
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Diarrhea
When applied topically, bromelain may cause skin reactions like a rash, itchiness, and swelling.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you experience any of these side effects after taking bromelain.
A Quick Review
Bromelain is a pineapple enzyme that has been shown to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Although it has several purported benefits, such as relieving sinusitis and minimizing arthritis pain, more research is needed to confirm all the potential benefits.
Bromelain supplements are considered safe for most people and have minimal side effects unless taken in very large doses. Bromelain may interact with certain medications, such as antibiotics and blood thinners. Those who are allergic to pineapple should not take bromelain.
Talk to your healthcare provider before starting a new supplement.
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Read the original article on Health.
