Pineapple power: looking for an alternative to aspirin or ibuprofen? Bromelain, an enzyme derived from pineapple stems, may be the perfect choice.(SUPPLEMENTS: CHECK OUT)(Clinical report)

Extracted from the stems of pineapples, bromelain is a multi-tasking supplement. It's classified as a proteolytic enzyme, which means it helps to break down proteins. But bromelain does much more than simply aid in digesting a steak dinner. Research shows that bromelain has a number of potential health benefits, from speeding the healing of sports injuries to improving the outcome of cancer treatments.

How the Enzyme Helps

When taken with meals, bromelain eases symptoms of poor digestion such as incomplete absorption, bloating and abdominal discomfort. Taken on an empty stomach, however, it works to alleviate inflammation.

Inflammation is the body's initial healing response to acute injuries or illness. Problems arise when the body cannot shut off the inflammatory process, resulting in diminished blood flow, increased pain and escalating inflammation. Recognized as the culprit behind many chronic and degenerative diseases, inflammation is implicated in the initiation and progression of arthritis, atherosclerosis, periodontal disease, inflammatory bowel disease and cancer.

In numerous studies, bromelain and other digestive enzymes have been shown to calm inflammation in joints, soft tissues, muscles and organs throughout the body. Proteolytic enzymes work by digesting and deactivating inflammatory compounds.

Scientific Support for Bromelain

In a 2004 study reported in Clinical Rheumatology, researchers compared an enzyme formula containing bromelain to the prescription drug diclofenac in treating patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. In a six-week study of 103 patients, scientists found that 51 percent of subjects receiving enzyme therapy reported improvement in pain and restoration of function, compared with 37 percent of people being given the drug. This is good news for arthritis sufferers, because nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as diclofenac) are notorious for causing stomach irritation, ulcers and internal bleeding.