Arthritis is a disease that affects the joints and is characterized by inflammation, stiffness and pain. Different types of arthritis include gout, fibromyalgia and ankylosing spondylitis, but osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common forms. Arthritis is incurable, but anti-inflammatory drugs help to alleviate pain and stiffness. Certain enzymes, including bromelain, may also help reduce pain and inflammation. Get medical advice before using bromelain and don't take it in place of your prescription arthritis medicines, NHS Choices says.
Properties
Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme that helps break down proteins. It's found in the stem of pineapple fruit. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center says bromelain has numerous medical applications and is sometimes used to aid wound healing, even to help prevent cancer. It may also inhibit the production of inflammatory chemicals, meaning it may play a role in the treatment of various forms of arthritis.
Dosage
Bromelain is supplied in capsules or tablets. You can get it by drinking pineapple juice, but this may not be the most effective way of getting the right dose. The amount of bromelain you need to take varies depending on the type of arthritis you have. The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, suggests taking 250mg twice daily to help alleviate osteoarthritis-associated inflammation but adds that you may need to take 500mg to 2,000mg three times daily if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Check with your doctor that these doses are appropriate for you.
Effectiveness
An early article by G. Klein and W. Kullich published in 1999 in the German medical journal "Weiner Medizinische Wochenshcrift" says that a preparation containing bromelain and two other natural compounds, known as trypsin and rutosid, is as effective as the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac in alleviating pain associated with arthritis of the shoulder. The results of a clinical study published in October 2004 in "Clinical Rheumatology" also found that bromelain, when combined with trypsin and rutosid, was as effective as dicolfenac in alleviating symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Safety Considerations
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center says bromelain may cause an allergic reaction in some people. It may also cause diarrhea and stomach discomfort. Don't take bromelain if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Stop taking bromelain if you are due to undergo surgery; it may increase your risk of bleeding. Don't take bromelain alongside antibiotics or anticoagulant medicines.
References
- NHS Choices: Arthritis
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Bromelain
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Osteoarthritis
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Rheumatoid Arthritis
- "Weiner Medizinische Wochenshcrift"; Reducing Pain by Oral Enzyme Therapy in Rheumatic Diseases; G. Klein and W. Kullich; 1999
- "Clinical Rheumatology"; Oral Enzyme Combination Versus Diclofenac in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee-- A Double-Blind Prospective Randomized Study; N.M. Akhtar et al.; October 2004
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