By Dr. Linda J. Dobberstein, DC, Board Certified in Clinical Nutrition
Since 1964, bromelain has been studied for its great effects on natural recovery. Bromelain, which is a type of enzyme, has a long-standing track record for trash removal and natural repair of the body’s daily wear and tear. If taken with food, bromelain also aids in digestion. When taken between meals, it helps your body moderate daily tissue stress. Bromelain is a type of enzyme that provides housecleaning and tissue clean-up repair throughout your body.
Bromelain: A Proteolytic Enzyme
Derived from pineapple stem, bromelain is in a group of proteolytic enzymes that perform proteolysis or break down of proteins. These enzymes perform many valuable functions throughout the body. Bromelain helps digest proteins in your food into small peptides that nourish your body. It also regulates protein function, clean up processes, cell autophagy and programmed cell death. Clean-up is needed of worn-out cells to help the body repair from daily wear and tear or other insults. Here are some examples of how the enzymatic activity of bromelain helps your body in a wide variety of concerns.
Gluten Breakdown
A recent food experiment evaluated some compounds to determine their ability to modify dietary gluten. The study was to see if and how well the microstructure of gluten could be broken down. Gluten is the protein in wheat and other grains that makes dough elastic and stick together. Several compounds were tested which included glutathione, ascorbic acid, potassium bromate, glucose oxidase, transglutaminase, and bromelain.
Results showed that bromelain at various concentrations was able to either modify or even destroy the microstructure of gluten. Glutathione support had similar results. Rather than gooey, sticky dough, exposure to bromelain caused the flour proteins to disintegrate into a liquid lump that didn’t stick together. Bromelain, taken with other enzymes like papain and protease, may support digestion of gluten proteins. In a September 2018 gluten challenge study, it was found that individuals who consumed bromelain and other enzymes with gluten intake experienced healthier bowel movements and felt better.
Dental Health
Getting your teeth pulled is no laughing matter, especially when it is a molar or your wisdom teeth. A recent meta-analysis reviewed several randomized controlled trials on bromelain and the discomfort of having wisdom teeth removed. Results of the combined studies showed that bromelain assisted tissue recovery, provided relief and positive impact on patient quality of life within the first 24-hours and seven days after tooth removal.
Other findings show that bromelain enhances repair and support with gingival tissues. Use of the enzyme after dental work helped with discomfort, but did not cause an increase in bleeding gums. Orthodontic patients who received bromelain, papain, and two other herbs in a toothpaste were found to have less plaque build-up and less irritation to the gingival lining.
Cellular Trash Clean Up Throughout the Body
Bromelain activates apoptosis which is the body’s normal removal of damaged cells. A recent animal study showed this action within the colon. Bromelain triggered a burst of healthy repair activities and helped break down worn-out proteins in the colon. Bromelain helped make the colon tissue more structurally healthy.
Other tissues in the body have been shown to benefit by the trash removal effects of bromelain. Bromelain helps clean up cellular trash, congestion, and damaged cells in breast tissue, skin, digestive tract, blood stream, wounds and scar tissue.
Proteolytic enzymes like bromelain and papain (which is derived from papaya) also help the body naturally remove trash found in the blood stream and circulatory system.
Able to Infiltrate Past Biofilms and Layers of Mucosal Trash
Bromelain’s enzymatic ability allows it to penetrate into different tissues where it helps the body with mucous, tissue clean-up and comfort support. Studies demonstrate its ability to get from the blood stream into the deep nasal and sinus passages in adults allowing it to support sinus health.
Mucous build-up can also occur in the intestinal tract. This may affect digestion and the bioavailability of nutrients to the rest of the body. Bromelain and papain may be used to assist in the microscopic breakup of mucous. This improves bioavailability of nutrients and other helpful compounds but keeps the natural protective mucosal layer intact.
Bromelain can even infiltrate past biofilms. Biofilms are communities of germs that form a slimy barrier. The barrier protects and anchors the biofilms which helps them attach to various tissues throughout the body. Biofilms can also hide in plastics, metals, and medical implant materials.
Biofilms create very sophisticated hide and seek games with the immune system to hide germs from detection and riddance making for treatment resistant germs. Bromelain can permeate past biofilm barriers and may be combined with other enzymes or nutrients for further enhancement.
Aids in Brain Health
Bromelain may also help protect the brain from build-up of protein trash. The journal Current Alzheimer’s Research in 2018 study showed that accumulation of protein trash was able to be broken down in cell studies of cultured animal neurons.
Dichlorvos is a common organophosphate pesticide used in homes and public areas that is toxic to nerve tissues and neurotransmitters. Mice were subacutely exposed to this pesticide in a recent 2017 study. Dichlorvos was chosen as it adversely affects the activities of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine, GABA, serotonin and other proteins in the brain. Nutritional support was provided along with a control group.
The mice that received bromelain along with bacopa, a powerful Ayurvedic antioxidant herb had a better outcome than those that did not. The nutrients helped support nerve tissue from oxidative stress and build-up of damaged proteins.
Cartilage and Tendons
A randomized clinical trial in 2017 showed bromelain with other enzymes provided support and aided in comfort for cartilage cells in the jaw joint or temporomandibular joint.
We have used bromelain combined with papain, quercetin, and curcumin for over 25 years to support body tissue repair in joints, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. It can be combined with other nutrients like hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and MSM sulfur to benefit structural repair. Bromelain is also shown to help your body manage swelling and bruising.
Immune Modulation
Bromelain has the capacity to support the immune system. It helps your body modulate T-cells, natural killer cell activity, macrophages and inflammatory cytokines like IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-a. Bromelain is considered an immune modulator like resveratrol that provides antioxidant, apoptosis support, and trash removal of rogue cells and debris with the immune system.
Full Strength Enzyme Potency
Bromelain is commonly measured by gelatin dissolving units (GDU) or milk clotting units (MCU). One GDU is equivalent to about 1.5 MCU. We offer full strength bromelain which has a very high potency (2400 GDU/gram). Thus, 150 mg of our bromelain has the same potency as 450 mg of bromelain standardized for 1200 MCU (a commonly used strength). Repair Plus™ contains the finest full strength bromelain available, along with papain, quercetin, and curcumin. Check your label. If it does not say 2400 GDU/gram, it is a lesser quality product with diminished enzymatic potency. Bromelain is an excellent nutrient for your body’s repair needs and trash removal.
