The Effects of Bromelain on Humans & Animals

Christopher Columbus brought Europeans their first taste of pineapple, which he had been introduced to by natives of Guadeloupe. They had already been using pineapple for its ability to fight inflammation and indigestion then. Today, the compound bromelain, responsible for much of this behavior, has been isolated and is widely available as a diet supplement. Many of the modern studies demonstrating the health benefits of bromelain have been done on animals.

Digestion

• Eating pineapple or drinking pineapple juice has long been a folk remedy for an upset stomach and other problems with digestion. Bromelain most basically functions as an enzyme that helps digest proteins, in humans and animals. However, there is evidence that it additionally stimulates muscles in the walls of the intestines, facilitating improved nutrient absorption. A few animal and other studies have also suggested that bromelain can help combat diarrhea caused by E. coli.

Inflammation

• The natives who Columbus learned about pineapple from used pineapple topically to treat inflammation, and this property has also recently been demonstrated to stem from bromelain. Indeed, Germany has approved bromelain use to reduce inflammation resulting from surgery on the nose and sinuses. However, not all evidence supports bromelain's efficacy in this capacity. It seems most effective in hay fever and other allergenic responses, though some have suggested that it effective even against arthritis.

Cancer and Clotting

• Some of the most exciting avenues of research into bromelain are those stemming from properties unbeknownst to those who first acknowledged pineapple's medical benefits. These are in the fields of cancer and cardiovascular disease -- two of the main killers of populations in the developed world. Studies on both animals and humans hint at an improved immune response against tumor cells when the individual is receiving bromelain, possibly by increasing production of cytokines, a certain class of immune system hormones. In the case of humans these treatments have been exclusively alongside more traditional treatments, but evidence is nonetheless promising. Bromelain also seems to act as an anti-clotting factor in the bloodstream, preventing platelets from clumping excessively, and possibly even fighting the buildup of plaques.

Complications

• While bromelain is fairly innocuous, problematic side effects do occur from its use in a small percentage of people. Most commonly these are a result of an allergy; anyone allergic to pineapple should not take bromelain, and certain other allergies, such as to kiwi, papaya, latex or wheat flour, seem to increase the likelihood of a negative response to bromelain. Also, because of bromelain's effects on digestion and circulation, it may magnify the negative side effects of many medications, especially blood thinners.