About this ingredient
Bromelain is a group of proteolytic, or protein-digesting, enzymes naturally obtained from pineapple (Ananas comosus). Commercial bromelain is commonly produced from pineapple stem material, although pineapple fruit also contains bromelain-related enzymes.
Rather than being a single enzyme, bromelain refers to a mixture of proteases and other naturally occurring components. Commercial products can therefore differ in enzyme composition and activity. Product specifications may express activity using different laboratory units, so the milligram weight alone does not necessarily indicate enzyme potency.
Bromelain has been studied for protein digestion, digestive support, inflammation-related pathways, joint comfort, recovery and tissue-related applications. Human research exists for several applications, but results vary depending on the preparation, dose, study population and health condition.