✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
Updated: 2026-05-29 · v2.0 · Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhDCiteEditorial
📰Read the full Bromelain evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.
2
Conditional
Bromelain
Bromelain (from pineapple)
Conditionally SafeModerateOther
RDA
Typical 200–2,000 mg
Target
N/A
Upper limit
No UL
Products
626
Dosage by population group — reference
🔗 Best with: Quercetin, Turmeric / Curcumin, Papain✅ USP Verified, NSF Contents Certified, ConsumerLab Approved
⚠ Between meals: systemic. With meals: digestive. Different effects [2]
⚠ Anticoagulant interaction — fibrinolytic activity [1]
⚠ Stop 2 weeks before surgery [1]
⚠ Enhances quercetin absorption [1]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
ℹ️ No validated blood test. There is no established laboratory test to assess status or guide dosing for this ingredient. Clinical response and symptoms are the practical guide.
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Bromelain is a pineapple stem protease — Commission E approved for post-surgical/post-traumatic swelling. BETWEEN meals = systemic anti-inflammatory. WITH meals = digestive enzyme. Enhances quercetin absorption. Fibrinolytic — stop before surgery [1] [2].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
Limited data. Avoid high doses [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Limited data [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose

How to take

🍽 Timing: Between meals for systemic. With meals for digestive [2].
💊 With food: Empty stomach for anti-inflammatory [2].
🚫 Avoid: Anticoagulants without monitoring. 2 weeks before surgery [1].
2 Which form?
FormBioavailabilityVeganCost
['Bromelain capsules (standardized GDU)', 'preferred', '500 mg, 2,400 GDU/g. Between meals for systemic effect [2].']StandardCheck label
3 Common questions
Between meals vs with meals? ▼
BETWEEN meals: absorbed systemically → anti-inflammatory. WITH meals: acts as digestive enzyme (breaks down protein). Different effects based on timing [2].
Does eating pineapple provide bromelain? ▼
Pineapple fruit contains some bromelain, but therapeutic concentrations are in the STEM (not commonly eaten). Supplemental bromelain is from stem extract [1].
4 Clinical evidence

Strong

Proteolytic enzyme activity: well-characterized [1]. Commission E approved for post-surgical/post-traumatic edema [2]. HIGH

Moderate

Post-surgical swelling: reduced edema and bruising in dental/orthopedic surgery [2]. Sinusitis: adjunctive therapy improved symptoms in some trials [2]. Osteoarthritis: some positive trials for pain reduction [2]. Quercetin absorption enhancement [1]. MODERATE

Insufficient

Cancer [1]. Cardiovascular [1]. Digestive aid (at systemic doses) [1]. Burn debridement (oral — topical forms exist) [1]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events

Absolute contraindications

✕ Pineapple allergy

Relative

⚠ Anticoagulants/antiplatelets — bleeding risk; discontinue before surgery
⚠ May increase absorption/levels of some antibiotics (amoxicillin, tetracycline)
⚠ Active peptic ulcer

🚩 Red flags

● Pre-surgical patient — stop 2 weeks before [1]
● Anticoagulant patient [1]
● Pineapple allergy [1]
6 Interactions

Drug interactions

Anticoagulants Moderate
Mechanism: Fibrinolytic and antiplatelet activity. [1]
Effect: Bleeding risk. [1]
Action: Monitor. Stop 2 weeks pre-surgery [1].

Supplement synergies

Quercetin · 500 mg quercetin
Bromelain enhances quercetin absorption and both are anti-inflammatory [1].
7 Regulatory
Germany (Commission E): Approved for post-traumatic/post-surgical swelling, sinusitis [2].
United States: Dietary supplement [1].
8 US supplement products
626
on-market products containing Bromelain (NIH DSLD)

Brands carrying Bromelain (203)

Click a brand to see its Bromelain products.
Or browse all 626 products in one list →
9 Frequently paired with
Calcium 320 sharedPapain 297 sharedMagnesium 290 sharedSilicon 264 sharedVitamin C 243 sharedPotassium 220 shared
Bromelain vs QuercetinBromelain vs Turmeric / Curcumin
10 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Bromelain — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 31]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/bromelain/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Bromelain — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/bromelain/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: March 2027
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Bromelain — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/bromelain/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG
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