According to "The Health Professional's Guide to Popular Dietary Supplements," bromelain is the protease enzyme from pineapple fruit and stems. It is widely used medicinally for many conditions and is thought to affect inflammatory mediators. Bromelain has been used for many years in Europe, Japan and South America to treat inflammation and fluid accumulation from stress and injury.
Dietary Sources
Bromelain is found in pineapple skin, stems and in smaller amounts in the flesh of fruit. It is also used as a component of meat tenderizer, as proteases, the enzymes in bromelain, are responsible for breaking down protein. Dietary sources of bromelain are typically low in edible portions of food.
Bromelain and Cooking
In dishes that require on the setting of jelly or gelatin, the addition of bromelain may promote undesirable effects. Foods requiring a settling phase, like gelatin, will not settle properly with the addition of pineapple or its juice, as protease enzymes in bromelain function to break down protein.
Supplemental Sources
Bromelain is often sold individually or in combination with other enzymes, including pancreatin, papain, betaine, lactase or cellulase. Supplemental bromelain is sold in capsule form and is often promoted for digestive problems like gas, bloating and irritable bowel. In addition to capsules, there are also bromelain creams, which are marketed for healing.
Drug Interaction with Bromelain
According to "The Health Professional's Guide to Popular Dietary Supplements," bromelain may be able to increase antiplatelet aggregation activity; therefore, individuals receiving coagulation therapy should be aware of the possible blood-thinning effects of bromelain. Bromelain may increase blood levels of antibiotics, such as tetracycline, if both are taken at the same time.
More Research Needed
Bromelain may reduce inflammation, promote healing and alleviate asthma or sinusitis symptoms. Bromelain has been proposed to increase antibiotic activity, prevent or treat cancer, decrease symptoms of osteoarthritis and asthma, and treat pancreatic insufficiency. More research is needed in these areas to determine the actual effects of bromelain on these conditions.
References
- "The Health Professional's Guide to Popular Dietary Supplements"; Allison Sarubin Fragakis; 2007
- Dole.com: Food Facts
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