Quick Answer: Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme from pineapple with evidence for reducing sinusitis inflammation, post-surgical swelling, and osteoarthritis pain. For digestive support, take with meals. For systemic anti-inflammatory effects, take away from food on an empty stomach. The evidence is real but moderate quality overall.
Bromelain is one of those supplements that sits comfortably between food ingredient and therapeutic agent. As a protease from pineapple (Ananas comosus), it’s used in both digestive enzyme blends and as a standalone systemic anti-inflammatory. The distinction between these two applications — digestive vs. systemic — fundamentally affects when and how you should take it, and the evidence base for each is different.
What Is Bromelain?
Bromelain is actually a mixture of several proteolytic (protein-digesting) enzymes found in the stem and fruit of pineapple. It was first described for therapeutic use in the late 1950s and has been extensively studied in Europe (particularly Germany, where Wobenzym — a multi-enzyme supplement containing bromelain — is widely used).
Walker AF et al. “Bromelain reduces mild acute knee pain and improves well-being in a dose-dependent fashion in an open study of otherwise healthy adults.” Phytomedicine. 2002. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12236957/
Akhtar NM et al. “Oral enzyme combination versus diclofenac in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.” Clinical Rheumatology. 2004. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14758485/
Braun JM et al. “Therapeutic use, efficiency and safety of the proteolytic pineapple enzyme Bromelain-POS.” Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe. 2005.
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