Bromelain is found mostly in the stems of pineapples and is available through extraction as a dietary supplement.
What Is It?
Bromelain is a group of proteolytic enzymes that are essential for digesting protein. Although most enzymes are considered to be poorly absorbed, the body can absorb significant amounts of bromelain. People who suffer from malabsorption usually use proteolytic-type enzymes to help with their ailment.
Bromelain can prevent excessive blood-platelet stickiness, because it is a natural blood thinner. Through the positive reports in clinical trials, bromelain was shown to decrease symptoms of angina and thrombophlebitis. In addition, bromelain reduces the thickness of mucus, which can benefit patients with asthma or chronic bronchitis.
How Does It Work?
Bromelain is a natural anti-inflammatory enzyme that works by breaking down fibrin, a blood-clotting protein that can impede good circulation and prevent tissues from properly draining. Bromelain is used particularly with strains, muscle injuries, pain, swelling, and tenderness that accompany sports injuries. Bromelain also blocks the production of compounds that can cause swelling and pain. When inflammation is minimized, blood can flow easily to a damaged area, easing pain and speeding up the healing process. Because of its anti-inflammatory effects, bromelain has been found to significantly reduce postoperative swelling. Research has also found that bromelain has an effect in reducing swelling, bruising, and pain for women having minor surgery after they have given birth (episiotomy).
Bromelain is often blended with trypsin, an enzyme that alleviates symptoms of urinary tract infection due to its anti-inflammatory action. Research comparing the two enzymes in combination with antibiotics to placebo plus antibiotics reported that reductions of symptoms were good to excellent with all of the patients given these enzymes and antibiotics. Bromelain can also increase the uptake of bioflavonoids.
