Protease enzymes are protein-digesting molecules that occur throughout nature. All living organisms, including humans, produce proteases to assist in breakdown of proteins. In general, supplemental enzymes --- proteases or otherwise --- don't have much of an effect upon human symptoms and disease processes, but there's some indication that one particular protease might help with certain types of headaches.
Protease
Enzymes are one of the more commonly misunderstood types of biological molecules. They're proteins that are absolutely essential to life, and all living organisms rely upon them extensively to help speed up chemical reactions. Enzymes fall into a variety of classes, explain Drs. Mary Campbell and Shawn Farrell in their book "Biochemistry," and each type of enzyme can participate in only one type of chemical reaction. Protease enzymes, also called proteolytic enzymes, help digest proteins, and that's their only chemical role.
Protease Supplements
There are several popular protease supplements that you may have seen at your local health food store or drugstore. Two of the most popular include pineapple enzyme, or bromelain, and papaya enzyme, or papain. There is very little scientific evidence to suggest that either of these have any effect in the human body, and evidence is particularly scarce with regard to papain. Bromelain, however, may have some anti-inflammatory properties, according to Dr. H. Maurer in a 2001 article published in the journal "Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences."
Bromelain Activity
Exactly why bromelain has anti-inflammatory activity is unknown at this time, notes Dr. Maurer, but the evidence suggests that such activity is only partly due to the fact that it's a proteolytic enzyme. Still, while there are only limited studies on bromelain and its activity in the body, it may have application in prevention and treatment of certain blood disorders, including clotting disorders, and in prevention or treatment of some inflammatory conditions such as sinusitis.
Headaches
In general, there's no evidence to suggest that protease enzymes can rid you of headaches. However, if you have a sinus infection with an accompanying headache as a result of sinus inflammation, you may find that taking bromelain will help provide some relief, according to Dr. Steven Taussig and colleagues in a 1988 article in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology." The study suggests that doses of around 750 mg per day may show the most therapeutic effect. Because bromelain can also enhance absorption of some pharmaceutical drugs, however, you should check with your doctor before using pineapple enzyme for headaches.
References
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Bromelain, the enzyme complex of pineapple (Ananas comosus) and its clinical application. An update; Steven Taussig et al; 1988
- "Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences"; Bromelain: biochemistry, pharmacology and medical use; H. Maurer; March 2001
- "Biochemistry"; Mary Campbell, Ph.D. and Shawn Farrell, Ph.D.; 2005
