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Bromelain | | |
Bromelain, derived from the pineapple plant, is one of a group of
proteolytic enzymes (enzymes capable of digesting
protein).
Numerous studies, mostly on animals, have demonstrated
its effectiveness in conditions ranging from sinusitis to cardiovascular
disease. In humans, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have shown
bromelain to be very useful in treating facial bruising (in boxers) as
well as in the treatment of symptoms associated with sinusitis. The German
E Commission acknowledges the use of bromelain for acute postoperative and
post-traumatic conditions of swelling, especially of the nasal and
paranasal sinuses.
In addition to the anti-inflammatory properties,
bromelain is often used as a digestive aid for breaking down proteins. It
is widely believed that most orally ingested enzymes are destroyed by the
digestive juices prior to being absorbed. However, there is evidence that
significant amounts of bromelain can be absorbed intact.
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| Common Name | | | Bromelain
| | | Botanical Latin Name / Classification | | | Ananus comosus
| | | Parts Used | | | Pineapple Stem
| | | Other Names | | | Bromelainum, Pineapple Stem, Pineapple Enzyme.
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| | | Description | | | Bromelain is the name for the protease enzymes extracted from the stem and
fruit of fresh pineapple. The commercial supplement is usually obtained
only from the stem of the pineapple, which contains a higher concentration
of the enzymes than the fruit.
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| | | Traditional Internal Uses | | | The German E Commission acknowledges the use of bromelain for acute
postoperative and post-traumatic conditions of swelling, especially of the
nasal and paranasal sinuses. Traditional use of bromelain as a digestive
aid is more common as enzymatic and anti-inflammatory actions are cited as
reasons for efficacy.
Bromelain is a mixture of protein processing
enzymes that aids in digestion while enhancing the absorption of nutrients
from food and supplements. Enzymes are the key in digestion which causes
the chemical breakdown of foods. This enzymatic action occurs in four
areas of the body: the salivary glands, the stomach, the pancreas and the
wall of the small intestines.
Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme,
breaks down and digests foods. Specifically, it has the ability to digest
fat, thereby making it an excellent supplement to aid in weight loss.
Bromelain seems to travel to any place in the body with excess fat and
digest the fatty cells. In addition to breaking down fats, bromelain
dissolves damaged protein (scar tissue) and speeds the healing rate of
bruises.
There are various products available which can help
relieve gastric juices, including glutamic acid which supplies
hydrochloric acid, lactobacillus acidophilus which provides friendly
bacteria to help restore the intestinal flora, and various digestive
enzyme formulations required for proper digestive
functions.
Bromelain has been reported to exert a wide variety of
beneficial effects on sports injuries, including reducing inflammation in
cases of injury or trauma and prevention of swelling after trauma. Studies
show that in boxers who have used bromelain all signs of bruising cleared
completely within four days.
Bromelain may also prevent abnormally
high levels of fibrinogen, which can cause blood clots to form
spontaneously and lead to heart attack.
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| | | Indications | | | Indigestion, Metabolism, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Weight Control / Obesity
Primary Indications: Burns, Muscle Sprains and Strains, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Sinusitis / Sinus Infection, Skin Disorders, Tendonitis
Secondary Indications: Dyspepsia, Malabsorption Syndrome, Colitis, Ulcers, Liver Disorders
Other Indications: Angina Pectoris (Chest Pain), Arthritis, Asthma, Cardiovascular Disorders, Cystitis, Food Allergies / Sensitivities
Primary Indications: Bruising, Swelling / Inflammation
Secondary Indications: Bloating, Flatulence
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| | | Actions | | | Anti-Carcinogenic, Anti-Diarrheal, Anti-Inflammatory, Antibiotic, Hepatoprotective, Immunoactive / Immunomodulatory / Immunostimulative
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| | | Constituents / Nutrients | | | Bromelain (EC 3.4.22.4) is the genuine mixture of bromelin A and B, the
proteolytic enzymes of pineapple fruit, Ananas comosus (L.) Merrill [Fam.
Bromeliaceae], in effective dosage.
Bromelains are sulphydryl
proteolytic enzymes, including several proteases. In addition, bromelain
also contains small amounts of non-proteolytic enzymes (including acid
phosphatase, peroxidase and cellulase), polypeptide protease inhibitors
and organically bound calcium.
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| | | Pharmacological Summary | | | Bromelain is an anti-inflammatory agent and is thought to act through
direct or indirect effects on inflammatory mediators. It inhibits the
enzyme thromboxane synthetase, which converts prostaglandin H2 into
pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and thromboxanes. Bromelain also
stimulates the breakdown of fibrin, which stimulates pro-inflammatory
prostaglandins responsible for fluid retention and clot formation. It also
appears to promote the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, causing an
increase in fibrinolysis.
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| | | Scientific Research and Pharmacologicial Actions | | | Various claims are made for the value of bromelain supplementation, but
much of the research underpinning these claims was carried out in the
1960s and 1970s, and there are almost no well-controlled human studies.
Bromelain has been associated with improvement in symptoms of sinusitis,
acceleration of wound healing, potentiation of antibiotic action, healing
of gastric ulcers, treatment of inflammation and soft tissue injuries,
reduction in severity of angina, reduction in sputum production in
patients with chronic bronchitis and pneumonia and decrease in symptoms of
thrombophlebitis.(1)
Sinusitis
Two double-blind,
placebo-controlled studies showed that bromelain 160 mg (400 000 units)
could reduce some symptoms of sinusitis.(2,3) However, headache was not
improved in either study.
Musculoskeletal Injuries
In
a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial,(4) 146 boxers with bruises to
the face and haematomas to the eyes, lips, ears, arms and chest received
either 160 mg bromelain daily or placebo for 14 days. At day 4, 78% of the
bromelain treated group were completely cured of their bruises compared
with 15% of the placebo group. However, this result was not tested for
statistical significance.
Surgical
Procedures
Bromelain has been reported in at least two
studies(5,6) to reduce the degree and duration of swelling and oral pain
with oral surgery. However, one study was not controlled and the other had
no statistical analysis.
Antibacterial
Bromelain
could be useful an antidiarrhoeal agent. In an in vitro study(7) bromelain
was shown to prevent intestinal fluid secretion mediated by Escherichia
coli and Vibrio cholera, and in other studies(8,9) to protect piglets from
diarrhoea. However, there are no human studies to
date.
Cardiovascular Disease
Bromelain has been
reported to reduce the severity of angina(10) and several in vitro
studies(11,12) have demonstrated that bromelain reduces platelet
aggregation.
Ulcerative Colitis
A letter from two US
consultants(13) stated that two patients with ulcerative colitis achieved
complete clinical and endoscopic remission after initiation of therapy
with bromelain.
Cystitis
One double-blind study in
humans revealed that bromelain was effective in treating non-infectious
cystitis.(14)
Conclusion
Many claims have been made
for bromelain, based largely on studies conducted during the 1960s and
1970s. Many of the published trials are uncontrolled human studies or
animal or in vitro studies, and well-controlled clinical trials are
required to establish the role of bromelain as a potential supplement.
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| | | Research | | | "Coping With A New Joint?"
"Pineapple Stem May Combat Cancer"
"Bromelain: Health Food for Bossie, Too"
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| | | Precautions / Contraindications | | | No problems have been reported, but based on the potential pharmacological
activity of bromelain, i.e. that it may inhibit platelet aggregation,
bromelain should be used with caution in patients with a history of
bleeding or haemostatic disorders.
Hypersensitivity to bromelain.
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| | | Interaction with Medications | | | An increased tendency for bleeding in the case of simultaneous
administration of anticoagulants and inhibitors of thrombocytic
aggregation cannot be excluded. The levels of tetracyclines in plasma and
urine are increased by simultaneous intake of bromelain.
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| | | Possible Side Effects | | | Occasionally gastric disturbances or diarrhea. Sometimes allergic
reactions.
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| | | Dosage | | | Unless otherwise prescribed: 80-320 mg, two to three times daily
for oral ingestion for 8 to 10 days. If necessary, administration may be
prolonged.
Solid dosage forms: 80-320 mg of bromelain
(200-800 FIP units) in 2 or 3 doses.
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| | | References | | | 1. Anonymous. Bromelain. Altern Med Rev 1998; 3: 302-308.
2. Ryan RE. A double-blind clinical evaluation of bromelains in the
treatment of acute sinusitis. Headache 1967; 7: 13-17.
3. Seltzer AP. Adjunctive use of bromelains in sinusitis: A controlled
study. Eye Ear Nose Throat Mon 1967; 46: 1281-1288.
4. Blonstein JL. Control of swelling in boxing injuries. Practitioner
1960; 185: 78.
5. Tassman GC, Zafran JN, Zayon GM. Evaluation of a plant proteolytic
enzyme for the control of inflammation and pain. J Dent Med 1964; 19:
73-77.
6. Tassman GC, Zafran JN, Zayon GM. A double blind crossover study of a
plant proteolytic enzyme in oral surgery. J Dent Med 1965; 20: 51-54.
7. Mynott TL, Guandalini S, Raimondi F, et al. Bromelain prevents
secretion caused by Vibrio cholera and Escherichia coli enterotoxins in
rabbit ileum in vitro. Gastroenterology 1997; 113: 175-184.
8. Mynott TL, Luke RKJ, Chandler DS. Oral administration of protease
inhibits enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) activity in piglet small
intestine. Gut 1996; 38: 28-32.
9. Chandler DS, Mynott TL. Bromelain protects piglets from diarrhoea
caused by oral challenge with K88-positive enterotoxigenic Escherichia
coli. Gut 1998; 43: 196-202.
10. Nieper HA. Effect of bromelain on coronary heart disease and angina
pectoris. Acta Med Empirica 1978; 5: 274-278.
11. Heinicke RM, Van der Wal M, Yokoyama MM. Effect of bromelain (Ananase)
on human platelet aggregation. Experientia 1972; 28: 844-845.
12. Metzig C, Grabowska E, Eckert K, et al. Bromelain proteases reduce
human platelet aggregation in vitro, adhesion to bovine endothelial cells,
and thrombus formation in rat vessels in vivo. In Vivo 1999; 13: 7-12.
13. Kane S, Goldberg MJ. Use of bromelain for mild ulcerative colitis
[letter]. Ann Intern Med 2000; 132: 680.
14. Lotti T, Mirone V, Imbimbo C, et al. Controlled clinical studies of
nimesulide in the treatment of urogenital inflammation. Drugs 1993; 46
(suppl. 1): 144-146.
Our thanks to the following information
resources: WholeheatlthMD.com, Medicinescomplete.com, American
Botanical Council (Herbalgram.org), VitaminsDiary.com, Vitacost.com.
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| | 1 product | | | Bromelain (Read all about Bromelain.)
Botanical Latin Name: Ananus comosus
Plant Part: Pineapple Stem | |
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
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