Many plants contain special proteins, known as enzymes, that may be beneficial for the human body. Bromelain is an enzyme derived from pineapple that is often used to reduce inflammation. Although bromelain may be effective at treating some kinds of diarrhea, it can also cause some side effects, including gastrointestinal distress and diarrhea.
What is Bromelain?
Pineapple juice and the stem of the pineapple both contain significant levels of the many enzymes that are collectively referred to as bromelain. The different enzymes in bromelain are all proteases, which means that they are able to break down other proteins. Bromelain is used for a variety of different medicinal purposes but it is most commonly used to reduce inflammation due to infections or injuries. By reducing inflammation, bromelain can help minimize tissue damage and speed healing.
Bromelain and Intestinal Infections
Some types of diarrhea are caused by infections of certain strains of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae. The use of bromelain as a treatment for infectious diarrhea stems from a 1997 article in the journal "Gastroenterology." This study found that administering bromelain to rabbits inhibited the ability of both Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae to make chemicals that cause the intestinal cells to secrete more fluid, resulting in diarrhea. Although this study showed that bromelain had some potential use as a treatment for diarrhea caused by these pathogens, this study has not been duplicated in humans.
Bromelain Side Effects
Although bromelain is safe for most people to use, it can cause some side effects. Some of the more common side effects include diarrhea and abdominal pain or discomfort. These side effects do not typically cause any severe health problems, but long-lasting or severe diarrhea can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. If you develop diarrhea after taking bromelain, you may need to stop using this supplement.
Considerations
Although the effectiveness of bromelain as a treatment for diarrhea has been evaluated scientifically, there are no other articles that have been published that have found any similar effects and there are no studies that have been performed on humans. Therefore, if you are having problems with diarrhea, you are probably better off seeing your doctor for treatment instead of taking bromelain supplements.
