Bromelain
Supplements · Joint Health · Supplement, Typed Supps
A pineapple-stem enzyme that can survive digestion intact enough to have real effects in your body.
Stage by stage
- Intake (Capsule): A protein-digesting enzyme, partially absorbed intact in a way most proteins aren’t.
- Small intestine (Partial intact absorption): A portion is absorbed still active, unlike most dietary proteins which are fully broken down first.
- Bloodstream (Circulates with enzymatic activity): Circulates with mild anti-inflammatory and mild blood-thinning activity.
- Inflammation & digestion (Dual studied use): Studied both for reducing swelling/inflammation and for helping digest dietary protein.
What the evidence supports
- Reducing pain and swelling in osteoarthritis — limited evidence. Some small trials and reviews suggest anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, but many tested combination products (with trypsin and rutoside) rather than bromelain alone.
- Reducing post-surgical or post-injury swelling and bruising — limited evidence. Supported by small studies; effect sizes and study quality are modest.
- Aiding protein digestion — limited evidence. It is a genuine proteolytic enzyme, but human evidence for a meaningful digestive effect is thin.
Typical dose
500–2000 mg daily, divided; taken between meals for anti-inflammatory use or with meals for digestion
Upper limit: No established UL
Timing
Between meals for anti-inflammatory use; with meals specifically for digestive support.
Time to effect
- Days: Any reported effect on swelling or digestion in studies.
Medication interactions
- Anticoagulants and antiplatelets (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel): Bromelain has mild antiplatelet activity that may add to bleeding risk. (moderate)
- Antibiotics (amoxicillin, tetracyclines): Bromelain can raise blood levels of these antibiotics. (moderate)
Common myth
“Bromelain has no meaningful interaction risk since it’s just a food-derived enzyme.” In reality: It has a mild, genuine blood-thinning effect — worth caution alongside blood-thinning medication or before surgery.
Food sources
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