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Bromelain

Other ·Moderate evidence ·Reviewed May 2026

Proteolytic enzyme from pineapple with anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits.

Evidence tier
Moderate
Indexed sources
17 1964–2025
Interactions
9
Cost / month
$5.40 budget
Read the sources → Compare profiles
What it's good for
  • Anti-inflammatory4,11
  • Digestion
  • Sinus relief10,5
  • Recovery from surgery/injury6,7
What to watch for
  • GI upset
  • Diarrhea
  • Allergic reactions
  • Blood thinners
  • Pineapple/latex allergy16

The bottom line

Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: anti-inflammatory, digestion, sinus relief. 17 sources indexed (1964–2025), with 9 interaction records on file.

The science

How it works, mechanistically.

Core mechanism

Cysteine protease that breaks down proteins, reduces kinin and fibrin, and inhibits prostaglandin synthesis. Enhances absorption of other supplements, especially quercetin and curcumin.12

Class
Proteolytic Enzyme
Found in food
Pineapple (stem has most)
Absorption
Best on an empty stomach
Dosing

Dosing & protocol.

Common range
500-1,000 mg daily (2,400 GDU/g)
Recommended form
Enteric-coated for systemic effects; regular for digestion

Empty stomach for anti-inflammatory effects; with food for digestion11,2

Dosing protocol

Maintain · 500-1000 mg between meals for anti-inflammatory effect; with meals for digestive effect

Mild antiplatelet activity.11

No cycling requiredNo tolerance buildup
Forms

Forms & what to buy.

Ranked by evidence and value.

Enteric-Coated Bromelain Recommended
Rank 1: protects enzyme activity through the stomach. Head-to-head bioavailability or pharmacokinetic evidence supports this ranking (PMID: 9252520). Take away from meals for systemic use.
Premium500-1000 mg/day
High-GDU Bromelain Capsules
Rank 2: potency-labeled enzyme form. With meals for digestion, away from meals for systemic use.
Mid2400 GDU/day or label dose
Bromelain Blend
Rank 3: combined with quercetin or enzymes. Dose depends on enzyme activity units.
MidUse label dose
Cost

What it actually costs.

Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Bromelain 2,400 GDU/g.

BudgetBest value
$5.40 /mo
$0.18 per dose
Mid
$10.50 /mo
$0.35 per dose
Premium
$21.00 /mo
$0.70 per dose

Assumes 500-1,000 mg/day. Vendor basis: NOW/iHerb, Vitacost, Life Extension, and Amazon marketplace; high-potency systemic enzyme products cost more. Updated 2026-05-28.

From food

The same dose, as food.

How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.

500-1,000 mg bromelain
Fresh pineapple flesh, pineapple core, pineapple juice, and blended pineapple smoothies provide bromelain, but normal servings are far below concentrated extract dosing.

Bromelain is highest in pineapple stem and core; supplement-strength GDU activity is not reliably matched by food.

Lab work

Markers to track.

What to test, the optimal window inside the conventional range, and how long a response takes.

hsCRP

Bromelain (500 to 1000 mg per day in divided doses, taken between meals) modestly lowers inflammatory markers and improves post-surgical bruising/swelling in small RCTs.1,2

Optimal
0–1 mg/L
Conventional
0–3 mg/L
Responds in
Post-surgical endpoints within days; chronic hsCRP changes over 4 to 8 weeks.

Take between meals for systemic enzyme effect; with meals for digestive enzyme effect. Bromelain has mild antiplatelet activity.

Why people use it

Symptoms it's matched to.

Where this appears in the symptom-to-supplement map, ranked by relevance.

Post-surgery recovery support (perioperative tissue repair)

74% relevance

Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme that may reduce post-operative swelling and bruising and ease the discomfort of soft-tissue healing.6,8

ImmuneModerate evidenceStandardized bromelain (GDU-rated), taken between meals

Best studied for dental and orthopedic swelling; stop before surgery as directed because it can affect bleeding, and resume only with clinician approval.

Chronic sinus congestion

68% relevance

Bromelain has proteolytic and anti-inflammatory properties that some small studies suggest may reduce sinus inflammation, though evidence is limited.10,13

ImmuneEmerging evidenceEnteric-coated bromelain, about 500 mg between meals

Often paired with quercetin; avoid if allergic to pineapple or before surgery.

Seasonal allergies

66% relevance

Bromelain reduces nasal mucosal inflammation and is often paired with quercetin for synergy.10,1

ImmuneEmerging evidenceBromelain, 500 to 1000 mg between meals

Take between meals for anti-inflammatory effect, not with meals.

Poor digestion / food sits heavy

66% relevance

Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme that may assist protein digestion and reduce a sense of heaviness after protein-rich meals.2

DigestiveEmerging evidenceBromelain (from pineapple stem) capsules

Take with meals for digestion; use caution alongside anticoagulant medications.

Plantar fasciitis / heel pain

66% relevance

Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme that may reduce swelling and inflammatory markers in soft-tissue injury, but direct plantar fasciitis evidence is essentially absent.6,7

PainEmerging evidenceEnteric-coated bromelain, about 500 mg (roughly 1000 to 2000 GDU/g) taken between meals

Take on an empty stomach for an anti-inflammatory effect; avoid before surgery and if you are allergic to pineapple.

Tendon and ligament injury recovery

62% relevance

Bromelain has anti-inflammatory and anti-edema actions that may help in the early swelling phase of soft tissue injury.6,1

MusculoskeletalEmerging evidenceEnteric-coated bromelain

Most useful in the acute phase, and stop before any planned surgery.

Easy bruising / fragile capillaries

60% relevance

Bromelain has fibrinolytic and anti-edema actions and is traditionally used to speed resolution of bruising after trauma or surgery.1,2

AppearanceEmerging evidenceEnteric-coated bromelain

Has mild blood-thinning potential, so stop before scheduled surgery.

Hemorrhoids

60% relevance

This pineapple-derived protease has anti-inflammatory and mild anti-edema effects that may reduce local swelling and discomfort.12,4

CardiometabolicInsufficient evidenceEnteric-coated bromelain capsule, 200 to 400 mg between meals

Take away from food for any systemic anti-inflammatory effect; avoid if on blood thinners without clinician sign-off due to bleeding risk.

Chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in men

60% relevance

Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme with anti-inflammatory effects that was combined with quercetin in CP/CPPS research, mainly to enhance flavonoid absorption and tissue activity.6,7

PainInsufficient evidenceBromelain capsules taken alongside quercetin between meals

Its CP/CPPS role is as a quercetin adjunct rather than a standalone therapy; it can thin blood slightly, so flag use before any procedure and keep your clinician informed.

Varicose veins / venous insufficiency

57% relevance

Bromelain has anti-edema and fibrinolytic properties that may reduce swelling and discomfort associated with venous congestion.1,2

CardiometabolicEmerging evidenceBromelain (enteric-coated, between meals)

Take between meals for a systemic anti-inflammatory effect, and use caution with blood thinners due to mild antiplatelet activity.

Carpal tunnel / repetitive strain

57% relevance

Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme with anti inflammatory and anti edema effects that may help reduce swelling around irritated tendons.1,2

MusculoskeletalEmerging evidenceEnteric coated bromelain capsule taken on an empty stomach between meals

Take away from food for the anti inflammatory effect; use caution with anticoagulants and pineapple allergy.

Gout / high uric acid

56% relevance

Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme with anti-inflammatory and mild analgesic properties that may help soft-tissue inflammation during a flare.6,13

PainInsufficient evidenceBromelain (2400 GDU)

Take between meals for systemic anti-inflammatory effect; use caution with anticoagulants due to bleeding risk.

Protocols

Featured in protocols.

Evidence-based stacks that include it, with the exact dose and timing each one uses.

Allergy & Histamine Protocol

ImmunityOptionalEmerging evidenceBeginner$30-50/mo
Dose here
250-500 mg (roughly 500-1,000 GDU) once or twice daily
Timing
Between meals on an empty stomach for systemic anti-inflammatory effect

Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme complex from pineapple that may reduce mucosal swelling and inflammation, and taken on an empty stomach more of it is absorbed intact for systemic effects. Clinical evidence in allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is limited, so it is included as an adjunct.6,9

Wound Healing & Post-Surgery Recovery Protocol

RecoveryOptionalModerate evidenceIntermediate$35-60/mo
Dose here
500-1000 mg/day (about 1000-2000 GDU), divided
Timing
Between meals on an empty stomach for systemic anti-inflammatory effect

Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme complex from pineapple studied for reducing post-operative swelling, bruising, and pain, which may indirectly support comfort during recovery. It can increase bleeding risk and may interact with anticoagulants, so it should be paused before surgery on your surgical team's timeline and resumed only with clinician approval.6,9

Sinus & Respiratory Support Protocol

ImmunityOptionalEmerging evidenceBeginner$30-50/mo
Dose here
500 mg (around 2000 GDU/g), once or twice daily
Timing
On an empty stomach, between meals

Bromelain is a pineapple-derived enzyme studied as a supportive aid for sinus congestion and inflammation, where it may help reduce nasal swelling and improve breathing comfort. Evidence is limited and adjunctive.6,9

Safety

Full safety detail.

Side effects

  • GI upset
  • Diarrhea
  • Allergic reactions
  • Increased bleeding risk

Contraindications

  • Blood thinners
  • Pineapple/latex allergy16
  • Surgery6,7
Interactions

Interaction records.

ModerateCaution

Nattokinase

Both have fibrinolytic and antiplatelet activity; combined use additively raises bleeding risk.

Recommendation: Use together cautiously and only with surgical/bleeding-risk awareness. Avoid before procedures.

InfoCaution

Fish Oil

Both have mild antiplatelet activity; combined chronic use can additively raise bleeding tendency.

Recommendation: Use together with awareness of bleeding risk. Stop both before surgery.

InfoSynergy

Serrapeptase

Serrapeptase and bromelain are commonly combined as systemic proteolytic enzymes and appear to act in a complementary way to reduce post-surgical edema, pain, and inflammation.

Recommendation: Reasonable to combine for short-term anti-inflammatory support. Take on an empty stomach (away from food) for systemic enzyme effect, and monitor for additive bleeding tendency if also on blood thinners.

ModerateCaution

Ginkgo Biloba

Bromelain has mild antiplatelet and fibrinolytic activity that can add to ginkgo's platelet-inhibiting effect, modestly increasing bleeding risk.

Recommendation: Generally safe at normal doses, but use caution if combining with blood thinners or before surgery. Discontinue both ahead of dental or surgical procedures.

InfoSynergy

Quercetin

Bromelain is traditionally co-formulated with quercetin to add anti-inflammatory activity, with the two compounds dampening inflammation through complementary routes.

Recommendation: Take together, ideally with food for tolerability. The pairing is standard for inflammatory and allergy support and needs no special timing.

ModerateCaution

Ginger Extract

Both ingredients have antiplatelet activity, so combining them may add to bleeding risk, particularly alongside blood-thinning medication or before surgery.

Recommendation: Use with caution if on anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs, watch for bruising or bleeding, and stop both at least one to two weeks before any planned surgery.

InfoSynergy

Turmeric/Curcumin

Bromelain is widely co-formulated with curcumin to add its own proteolytic anti-inflammatory effect, increasing the net anti-inflammatory action of the pair.

Recommendation: Can be taken together for inflammatory and recovery support; the two are frequently combined in joint and recovery formulas and need no time separation.

SeriousCaution

Warfarin

Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme from pineapple stem, inhibits platelet aggregation and has been shown to reduce thrombin-, ADP-, and collagen-induced platelet activation in vitro. It also has direct fibrinolytic activity. Combined with warfarin, these effects can additively raise bleeding risk.

Recommendation: Avoid bromelain supplements while on warfarin. If you take it for sinus or post-surgical use, tell your anticoagulation clinic, watch for bruising or bleeding, and ask for an INR check within 1-2 weeks.

ModerateCaution

Aspirin Low-Dose

Bromelain may have antiplatelet and fibrinolytic effects that could add to low-dose aspirin. Human outcome evidence for the exact combination is limited, but bromelain has laboratory evidence of reduced platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. The combination is most concerning with high-dose bromelain, procedures, ulcer history, or other blood thinners.

Recommendation: Avoid high-dose bromelain while taking low-dose aspirin unless your clinician agrees. Tell your surgical or dental team about bromelain and seek care for unusual bruising, nosebleeds, black stools, or vomiting blood.

Search all 9 interaction records for Bromelain →

Sources

Sources, by evidence tier.

Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.

Meta-analyses & systematic reviews

8

Randomized controlled trials

2

Reviews & position papers

4

Observational studies

1

Reference material

2
Keep exploring

Deep dives & adjacent profiles.

SerrapeptaseOtherGinger ExtractHerbSulforaphaneOtherPsyllium HuskOtherOx BileOtherMSMOther

This page is educational. Do not start, stop, or change a supplement or medication based on it without checking with a qualified healthcare professional.

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NutriStack is an informational and organizational tool, not a medical service, and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.