Bromelain is an enzyme mixture present in the pineapple. People tend to use bromelain as a supplement for various health benefits, including relieving sinus problems, reducing inflammation, and improving digestion. There is varied scientific evidence surrounding the effectiveness of using bromelain for these purposes. This article will look at the reported benefits, as well as the potential risks, of using bromelain.

What is bromelain?
Bromelain is an enzyme mixture that people can extract from the stem or fruit of the pineapple plant Ananas comosus. Healers have used these enzymes for hundreds of years in many ways. Now, retailers tend to sell bromelain either as a health supplement or skin cream. Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes that have active effects in the body. The active ingredients in what is bromelain include proteinases and proteases, which are enzymes that break down proteins in the body.

Benefits of bromelain
People use bromelain as a natural remedy for many health issues. There is little quality scientific research to support many of its use, however.People commonly use bromelain supplements to improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. A 2004 review of clinical studiesTrusted Source found that bromelain is a useful treatment for osteoarthritis, possibly due to its anti-inflammatory effects. The researchers say that further research is needed into the effectiveness and suitable dosages. However, this is an older study, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) say thatTrusted Source the research to date is mixed about whether bromelain, alone or with other medications, is effective in treating osteoarthritis.
Bromelain also may help stimulate a healthy immune system to release inflammation-fighting immune system compounds. The review also suggests that bromelain can reduce transforming growth factor beta, which is a compound associated with inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and osteomyelofibrosis. However, scientists had conducted many of these studies on mice or in a cell-based laboratory setting, so researchers do not currently know the effects that bromelain has in humans.

Enhancing digestion
Some people take what is bromelain to relieve stomach upset and the symptoms of digestive disorders. Due to its inflammation-reducing properties, some people use it as an adjunct therapy to treat inflammatory bowel disorders. The NIH state thatTrusted Source there is not enough evidence for using what is bromelain to aid digestion. Animal studies have suggested that bromelain can reduce the effects of some bacteria that affect the intestine, such as Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholera. These are both common causes of diarrhea.