BROMELAIN Overview Information
Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapple juice and in the pineapple stem. People use it for medicine.
Bromelain is used for reducing swelling (inflammation), especially of the nose and sinuses, after surgery or injury. It is also used for hay fever, treating a bowel condition that includes swelling and ulcers (ulcerative colitis), removing dead and damaged tissue after a burn (debridement), preventing the collection of water in the lung (pulmonary edema), relaxing muscles, stimulating muscle contractions, slowing clotting, improving the absorption of antibiotics, preventing cancer, shortening labor, and helping the body get rid of fat.
It is also used for preventing muscle soreness after intense exercise. This use has been studied, and the evidence suggests bromelain doesn’t work for this.
Some people use a product (Phlogenzym) for arthritis (osteoarthritis) that combines bromelain with trypsin (a protein) and rutin (a substance found in buckwheat). Bromelain used in this way seems to reduce pain and improve knee function in people with arthritis.
There isn’t enough scientific evidence to determine whether or not bromelain is effective for any of its other uses.
How does it work?
Bromelain seems to cause the body to produce substances that fight pain and swelling (inflammation).
Bromelain also contains chemicals that interfere with the growth of tumor cells and slow blood clotting.
BROMELAIN Uses & Effectiveness 
Possibly Effective for:
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis) pain and knee function when used in combination with trypsin and rutin (Phlogenzym). This combination seems to be about as effective as some prescription painkillers.
Possibly Ineffective for:
- Preventing muscle soreness (myalgia) after exercise. Taking bromelain orally, immediately following intense exercise, does not seem to delay onset of muscle soreness and has no effect on pain, flexibility, or skeletal weakness.
Insufficient Evidence for:
- Knee pain. There's some evidence that taking bromelain by mouth can reduce mild acute knee pain that’s lasted for less than three months in otherwise healthy people.
- Reducing swelling after surgery or injury. Some research suggests bromelain might reduce swelling and pain after surgery or injury. Interestingly, bromelain doesn’t seem to reduce swelling after mouth surgery.
- Severe burns.
- Inflammation.
- Improving antibiotic absorption.
- Hay fever.
- Preventing cancer.
- Shortening of labor.
- Ulcerative colitis.
- Other conditions.
BROMELAIN Side Effects & Safety
Bromelain is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken in appropriate amounts. Bromelain may cause some side effects, such as diarrhea and stomach and intestinal discomfort. Bromelain may also cause allergic reactions, especially in people who have other allergies. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking bromelain.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of bromelain during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Allergies: If you are allergic to pineapple, wheat, celery, papain, carrot, fennel, cypress pollen, or grass pollen, you might have an allergic reaction to bromelain.
Surgery: Bromelain might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using bromelain at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
BROMELAIN Interactions
Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination
- Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox) interacts with BROMELAIN
Taking bromelain might increase how much amoxicillin is in the body. Taking bromelain along with amoxicillin might increase effects and side effects of amoxicillin.
- Antibiotics (Tetracycline antibiotics) interacts with BROMELAIN
Taking bromelain might increase how much antibiotic the body absorbs. Taking bromelain along with some antibiotics might increase effects and side effects of some antibiotics called tetracyclines.
Some tetracyclines include demeclocycline (Declomycin), minocycline (Minocin), and tetracycline (Achromycin). - Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with BROMELAIN
Bromelain might slow blood clotting. Taking bromelain along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
BROMELAIN Dosing
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:
- For osteoarthritis: a combination product (Phlogenzym), which contains rutin 100 mg, trypsin 48 mg, and bromelain 90 mg, given as 2 tablets 3 times daily has been used.
