Bromelain: What makes the pineapple enzyme so special?

There are thousands of enzymes, also known as biocatalysts, but only a few are actually produced in the body through food. Instead, the body can produce others itself. They are all necessary to maintain many different important functions.

One in particular is bromelain - the enzyme from pineapples. One of the things that makes it so special is that even though it occurs naturally in pineapple fruit, the amount it contains is not actually sufficient to have any effect. This is why numerous high-dose bromelain supplements are available.

What is bromelain?

It gets its name from the plant genus Bromeliaceae, to which the pineapple also belongs. The pineapple is full of vitamins and very rich in enzymes. Two of these biocatalysts from the pineapple plant are known as bromelain (distinguishing between stem and fruit bromelain). Enzymes break down chemical compounds, e.g. proteins, into their components. In this case, they are also known as proteases. They therefore fulfil an important function in metabolic processes. Some of them can be produced by the human body itself and can also be absorbed through food.

The two pineapple enzymes were discovered in 1957 and are found in the pineapple fruit and in the stem of the plant itself. However, the enzyme content of a ripe fruit is very low. Unripe fruit and the stem of the plant may contain even more of the enzyme than ripe pineapple fruit. But regardless of whether the fruit is ripe or unripe, the dose of bromelain is far too low to have any effect in either case. The substance is therefore processed in higher doses. For use in food supplements, the stem of the pineapple plant is processed, squeezed and then the enzyme is isolated so that it can be used as an ingredient in tablets or capsules.

How does bromelain work?

Various studies have come to the conclusion that the active ingredient has anti-inflammatory properties and therefore has a positive effect on acute inflammation as well as chronic inflammation in the human body [1]. Inflammations can be reactions to injuries, viruses and bacteria. They occur because there is an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory messenger substances. Certain enzymes help to restore the balance between these messenger substances and thus heal the inflammation.

Certain enzymes also contribute to the healing process in the case of swelling caused by injuries, as swelling consists largely of proteins and water retention that cannot be properly removed. Enzymes break down the proteins and thus dissolve a blockage. Injuries or oedema after operations can also reduce swelling. Various clinical studies have come to the conclusion that this applies in particular to the two biocatalysts from pineapple. And if the swelling and thus the pressure on the injured area is reduced, this also relieves the pain [2].

In addition, some studies have also investigated the anticoagulant effect of the enzyme complex [3,4]: This is because it is involved in the breakdown of the body's own protein fibrin. This is because fibrin - in high doses - has an effect on the flow rate of the blood and reduces it. 

In addition, some clinical studies suggest that bromelain could also be important in cancer therapy in the future [5]. This is because the two proteases from the pineapple fruit contain two very specific molecules that could have an antimetastatic effect. One is said to be able to block a certain malfunctioning protein that is responsible for many types of cancer. The other is said to stimulate the immune system to destroy harmful cells.

How is the pineapple enzyme absorbed and broken down?

As already mentioned above, the content of pineapple suitable for consumption is far too low for the effect of bromelain to actually unfold in the body. This enzyme can therefore only be supplied to the body via dietary supplements in tablet or capsule form. The capsules containing bromelain release their active ingredients in the small intestine, which can then be distributed through the intestinal mucosa and via the blood in the patient's body. Bromelain is broken down by the liver. How quickly this happens depends on individual factors.

How are bromelain supplements taken?

Bromelain supplements should normally be taken about half an hour to an hour before a meal with sufficient water.

What else should be considered when taking them?

When taking dietary supplements with bromelain, the interactions with other medications should always be taken into account. It is generally not recommended for children under the age of twelve. As a precaution, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should also not take bromelain tablets, as there are not enough studies on this group.

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3529416/ 

[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30484910/

 [3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25517253/ 

[4] https://academy.isth.org/isth/2012/ssc/20967/mazen.toukh.the.anticoagulant.effect.of.bromelain.an.in.vitro.study.using.html

 [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4998156/