Bromelain
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Bromelain (Bromelain (pineapple proteolytic enzyme complex)) is a dietary supplement with 8 published peer-reviewed studies involving 1,540 participants, researched for Anti-inflammatory Effects, Surgical Recovery, Sinusitis and 1 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Anti-inflammatory Effects
ModerateSurgical Recovery
StrongSinusitis
ModerateDigestive Health
ModerateResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Anti-inflammatory Effects
To evaluate bromelain supplementation on inflammatory markers and pain in knee osteoarthritis.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate bromelain supplementation on inflammatory markers and pain in knee osteoarthritis.
Dose
800 mg/day bromelain
Participants
90 patients with knee osteoarthritis
Duration
4 weeks
Results
Bromelain significantly reduced WOMAC pain score, CRP, and IL-6 compared to placebo. Joint stiffness and physical function also improved significantly, demonstrating clinically meaningful anti-inflammatory benefits.
How They Measured It
WOMAC pain score, CRP, IL-6, joint function
To evaluate bromelain supplementation for pain and inflammation in musculoskeletal conditions.
Study Type
Meta-analysis
Purpose
To evaluate bromelain supplementation for pain and inflammation in musculoskeletal conditions.
Dose
400-1,000 mg/day
Participants
Pooled from 8 RCTs
Duration
Various
Results
Bromelain produced significant pain reduction and inflammatory marker improvements in osteoarthritis and post-surgical settings. Effect size was moderate and comparable to NSAIDs in some comparisons.
How They Measured It
Pooled pain and inflammatory marker changes across RCTs
Surgical Recovery
To evaluate perioperative bromelain supplementation on postoperative swelling and pain after dental surgery.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate perioperative bromelain supplementation on postoperative swelling and pain after dental surgery.
Dose
500 mg/day bromelain starting 3 days before surgery
Participants
84 patients undergoing dental extractions
Duration
7 days post-surgery
Results
Bromelain supplementation significantly reduced postoperative swelling (by 32%) and pain scores. Analgesic use was significantly lower in the bromelain group.
How They Measured It
Cheek swelling measurements, pain VAS, analgesic use post-surgery
To assess bromelain on postoperative oedema and wound healing after knee surgery.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, controlled
Purpose
To assess bromelain on postoperative oedema and wound healing after knee surgery.
Dose
400 mg/day bromelain
Participants
116 patients after arthroscopic knee surgery
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Bromelain significantly reduced postoperative knee swelling and improved range of motion recovery. Wound healing was faster and pain scores were lower compared to control, supporting bromelain's role in surgical recovery.
How They Measured It
Knee circumference, pain VAS, range of motion, wound healing score
Sinusitis
To evaluate bromelain for acute sinusitis symptoms in children.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate bromelain for acute sinusitis symptoms in children.
Dose
50 mg three times daily bromelain
Participants
116 children with acute sinusitis
Duration
Until symptom resolution (up to 12 days)
Results
Bromelain significantly shortened recovery time from sinusitis compared to placebo (median 9 days vs 12 days). Nasal mucous membrane appearance improved faster in the bromelain group.
How They Measured It
Sinusitis symptom score, time to symptom resolution, nasal endoscopy
Digestive Health
To assess bromelain for digestive comfort and protein digestion in adults with digestive complaints.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, controlled
Purpose
To assess bromelain for digestive comfort and protein digestion in adults with digestive complaints.
Dose
500 mg/day bromelain with meals
Participants
98 adults with bloating and digestive discomfort
Duration
6 weeks
Results
Bromelain significantly reduced bloating and digestive discomfort scores compared to control. Protein digestion improved as assessed by nitrogen balance and subjective comfort after protein-rich meals.
How They Measured It
Digestive symptom questionnaire, nitrogen balance, protein biomarkers
To characterise bromelain's proteolytic activity and stability in gastric and intestinal conditions.
Study Type
In-vitro study
Purpose
To characterise bromelain's proteolytic activity and stability in gastric and intestinal conditions.
Dose
Various bromelain concentrations
Participants
In-vitro digestion model
Duration
N/A
Results
Bromelain retained significant proteolytic activity across a wide pH range (3-9) and was partially resistant to pepsin. Intact bromelain was detectable in simulated intestinal fluid, supporting systemic absorption after oral intake.
How They Measured It
Proteolytic activity assays at varying pH, pepsin resistance, absorption studies
To investigate bromelain's anti-inflammatory effects on intestinal inflammation.
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To investigate bromelain's anti-inflammatory effects on intestinal inflammation.
Dose
100 mg/kg/day bromelain
Participants
DSS-induced colitis mice
Duration
14 days
Results
Bromelain significantly reduced colonic inflammation scores, lowered MPO activity, and decreased TNF-α and IL-6 in colitis mice. Gut barrier integrity also improved, supporting use for intestinal inflammatory conditions.
How They Measured It
Colon histology, inflammatory cytokines, myeloperoxidase activity
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Bromelain research
There are currently 10 peer-reviewed studies on Bromelain (Bromelain (pineapple proteolytic enzyme complex)), involving 1,540 total participants. Research covers Anti-inflammatory effects, Surgical recovery, Sinusitis and 1 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (5 human studies, 1 animal study), and reported outcomes.
Bromelain has been researched for: Anti-inflammatory effects, Surgical recovery, Sinusitis, Digestive health. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 5 out of 10 studies are human trials. The remaining 1 is an animal study. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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