Bromelain is the Nom de Guerre for a mixture of health-promoting compounds that can be extracted from Ananas cosmosus, the pineapple plant. Bromelain is not a single substance but rather a complex amalgamation of enzymes. Many investigators have focused on bromelain’s sulfur-containing proteolytic enzymes as the mixture’s most health-promoting component. Proteolytic enzymes break down proteins into simpler components and aid in digestion. Other components include escharase, peroxidase, acid phosphatase, and protease inhibitors.
Bromelain is most concentrated in the core and stem of pineapple and, to a much lesser extent, in the periphery. Sadly, prepackaged pineapple often excludes the core to maximize the sweet chunks of the periphery. Native to South America, pineapple has been used to treat many illnesses. It is widely used in Hawaiian folk medicine. Considered a natural remedy for a whole range of conditions, pineapple is one of the most plentiful sources of bromelain on Earth. It is also loaded with vitamins C, B1, manganese, and potassium.
How Does Bromelain Work?
The immune system is critical for healthy healing. Sometimes, for reasons not entirely understood, the immune system reacts too aggressively to an injury and causes collateral damage to healthy tissue. The immune system’s self-inflicted collateral damage further elicits an immune response and fuels a snowballing process that eventually leads to unrestrained inflammation. In this scenario, factors that reduce the immune system’s effectiveness are helpful for healing.
In animal studies, bromelain has been associated with both re-balancing the immune system’s response to healing and supporting healthy muscles, tendons, and joints. Research suggests bromelain may reduce the production of various immune system signaling molecules. These molecules interact with multiple cells in the immune system. Signaling molecules both direct immune cells to sites of healing and stimulate their activity. White blood cells heavily depend on signaling molecules to orchestrate both their internal processes and external action. If the signaling molecule information is not transmitted properly to the white blood cells’ “brain,” their nucleus, then they are less likely to carry out unhealthy healing. That is great news for tendons, muscles, and joints.
Moreover, some research implies bromelain makes it more difficult for white blood cells to attach to blood vessels near the site of healing. Blood vessels are the primary pathway that white blood cells use to enter a site of healing. If the blood vessel pathway is partially blocked, then the entry of white blood cells is significantly restricted. Additionally, bromelain has been shown to decrease the synthesis of substances that magnify pain and swelling.
3 Musculoskeletal Benefits of Bromelain
1. Bromelain Boosts Joint Health
British researchers investigated the effect of bromelain use on individuals with knee pain. After four weeks, study participants reported improvement in knee function scores and general well-being (Walker, Bundy, Hicks, & Middleton, 2002).
2. Bromelain Promotes Tendon Health
Nigerian researchers evaluated the effect of bromelain supplementation on rats after inducing an Achilles tendon injury. The treatment group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in new tendon cells compared to the non-treatment group (Aiyegbusi, Olabiyi, Duru, Noronha, & Okanlawon, 2011).
3. Bromelain Supports Muscle Health
American scientists evaluated the effect of bromelain combined with other proteases on muscle recovery and muscle soreness. The treatment group reported less perceived muscle soreness and demonstrated superior recovery when compared to the placebo group (Miller et al., 2004).
Precautions
Boron is generally well tolerated.
The National Institutes of Health has published an upper daily limit of 20 mg boron/day. Potential side effects include skin inflammation, irritability, tremors, convulsions, weakness, headaches, depression, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Some research suggests boron may influence estrogen regulation. Thus, individuals with estrogen-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids should be cautious.
Any consideration of supplementation should be discussed with a qualified health professional familiar with your unique medical history.
References
- Aiyegbusi, A. I., Duru, F. I., Awelimobor, D., Noronha, C. C., & Okanlawon, A. O. (2010). The role of aqueous extract of pineapple fruit parts on the healing of acute crush tendon injury. Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine, 20(4), 223-227.
- Brien, S., Lewith, G., Walker, A. F., Hicks, S. M., & Middleton, R. (2004). Bromelain as a treatment for osteoarthritis: A review of clinical studies. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 1(3), 251–257. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/neh035
- Brien, S., Lewith, G., Walker, A. F., Middleton, R., Prescott, P., & Bundy, R. (2006). Bromelain as an adjunctive treatment for moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 99(12), 841-850. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcl118
- Buford, T. W., Cooke, M. B., Redd, L. L., et al. (2009). Protease supplementation improves muscle function after eccentric exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41, 1908–1914.
- Ehrlich, S. D. (2014). Bromelain. University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved from http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/bromelain
- Fitzhugh, D. J., Shan, S., Dewhirst, M. W., & Hale, L. P. (2008). Bromelain treatment decreases neutrophil migration to sites of inflammation. Clinical Immunology (Orlando, Fla.), 128(1), 66-74.
- Ley, C. M., Tsiami, A., Ni, Q., & Robinson, N. (2001). A review of the use of bromelain in cardiovascular diseases. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao, 9(7), 702-710.
- Maurer, H. R. (2001). Bromelain: Biochemistry, pharmacology, and medical use. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 58, 1234–1245.
- Miller, P. C., Bailey, S. P., Barnes, M. E., et al. (2004). The effects of protease supplementation on skeletal muscle function and DOMS following downhill running. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 22, 365–372.
- Mulyono, N., Rosmeilia, E., Moi, J. G. P., Valentine, B. O., & Suhartono, M. T. (2013). Quantity and quality of bromelain in some Indonesian pineapple fruits. International Journal of Applied Biology and Pharmaceutical Technology, 4(2), 235-240.
- Nganvongpanit, K., Pradit, W., Pothacharoen, P., Mekchay, S., Chomdej, S., & Ong-Chai, S. (2013). Therapeutic effects of short-term supplementation of 0.5 and 1.0% pineapple shell on rabbits with experimentally induced osteoarthritis. Chiang Mai Journal of Science, 40(4), 564-576.
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- Shing, C. M., Chong, S., Driller, M. W., et al. (2016). Acute protease supplementation effects on muscle damage and recovery across consecutive days of cycle racing. European Journal of Sport Science, 16, 206–212.
- Siengdee, P., Nganvongpanit, K., Pothacharoen, P., Chomdej, S., Mekchay, S., & Ong-Chai, S. (2010). Effects of bromelain on cellular characteristics and expression of selected genes in canine in vitro chondrocyte culture. Veterinarni Medicina, 55(11), 551–560.
- Stone, M. B., Merrick, M. A., Ingersoll, C. D., et al. (2002). Preliminary comparison of bromelain and ibuprofen for delayed onset muscle soreness management. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 12, 373–378.
- Walker, A. F., Bundy, R., Hicks, S. M., & Middleton, R. W. (2002). Bromelain reduces mild acute knee pain and improves well-being in a dose-dependent fashion in an open study of otherwise healthy adults. Phytomedicine, 9(8), 681–686. https://doi.org/10.1078/094471102321621269
