For ASTHMA, bromelain works as a smooth muscle relaxant for the small muscles in bronchial passages. As the airways open up, breathing becomes easier as tight chest and wheezing are reduced. Bromelain also calms allergic reactions in airways and lungs, curtails swelling, and can break up thick mucus. Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory properties: its ability to impede mediators of inflammation such as prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and kinins can ease asthma symptoms by calming inflammation in the airways and preventing over-reactive immune responses.

Bromelain is the name for an enzyme complex, a group of sulfur-containing proteases, that break down protein. It is extracted from the stem of the pineapple plant. Taken with meals, bromelain will be used by the body to digest proteins; but when taken on an empty stomach bromelain acts medicinally as a potent anti-inflammatory and repairer for soft tissues, to reduce pain and swelling. Bromelain is well-documented to survive stomach acid, which is at a lower level between meals than in pineapple where bromelain naturally occurs. Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions. The body contains 50,000 to 70,000 different enzymes that regulate every metabolic function. Without enzymes, metabolism would progress too slowly to sustain life.

In studies, bromelain significantly reduced the number of two key markers of lung inflammation, leukocytes (white blood cells), and eosinophils.¹ Even better, not only does bromelain reduce the prevalence of inflammatory cells, it also interferes with adhesion molecules. By reducing the stickiness or adhesion of cells that help the leukocytes migrate and attach to sites of inflammation, bromelain can hinder the accumulation of immune cells in the airways.

Bromelain has immunomodulatory properties meaning it can stimulate or suppress the immune system to regulate its activity and function. Research suggests that bromelain can reduce the activation of T cells and other cells such as CD4+ and CD8+ in the bronchi, inhibiting the production of antigen-specific immunoglobin 3 (IgE) and suppressing the allergic responses that contribute to asthma.²

Studies also indicate that bromelain can alter dendritic cells, which are cells crucial for initiating allergic immune responses. By modulating these cells, bromelain can reduce the overall allergic reaction and offset the development of allergic asthma.³

Additionally, bromelain is known to be a mucolytic agent, meaning it helps break down mucus. Excessive production can contribute to airway obstruction not only in asthma, but also in allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. Bromelain can reduce mucus production and improve drainage, helping to clear the airways for better breathing.

Our patients find that bromelain helps to reduce coughing, lessen mucus and make it easier to clear out, and improve air entry. They report better exercise capacity with improved oxygen uptake, and fewer allergic asthma episodes especially during pollen season. While the exact mechanisms of bromelain are still being researched, there is good scientific evidence for bromelain as a tonic for the air passages and lungs that relaxes the bronchi muscles in the lungs.

Recommendation: Bromelain 1,000 mg one to two times daily, between meals, or as directed by your healthcare provider. To be effective as an anti-inflammatory and pain-reliever, bromelain must be taken between meals, so that it does not act as a protein-digesting enzyme. Effective doses start at around 1000 mg. A combination that includes amino acids such as leucine in a vegan capsule makes for easy absorption and enhances the soothing digestive effect of bromelain.

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