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Pineapple, a delicious summer fruit rich in an array of nutrients, also has notable digestive-enhancing properties. Along with vitamin C, thiamin, potassium, manganese and potent phytonutrients, pineapple is one of the most abundant sources of bromelain, a mixture of proteolytic enzymes significant for digestion.
Bromelain improves digestion by facilitating hydrolysis, the breakdown of proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids so they can be efficiently absorbed and assimilated by the body. Bromelain can be absorbed in the intestines without compromising its biological activity.
Enhanced protein digestion can contribute to improved overall nutritional status, while supporting various integral regulatory functions in the body. A growing body of research underscores the digestive enzymatic properties of this tropical fruit, with well demonstrated benefits for improved health.
Through its proteolytic mechanisms of action, bromelain can enhance the bioavailability of nutrients derived from proteins. Bromelain has also been shown to have antidiarrheal properties, having further implications for improved digestion and nutrient absorption.
In addition to its proteolytic activity, bromelain has also been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, gut and immune-modulating effects, collectively contributing to its overall improved digestive health properties.
A 2021 study published in The International Journal of Immunopathology Pharmacology revealed the anti-inflammatory effects of bromelain following GI digestion stimulated in vitro utilizing intestinal, stomach and chondrocyte human cellular models.
Mounting findings implicate that inflammation is related to the etiology of many GI conditions. A growing body of research suggests that bromelain reduces colonic inflammation and synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines that may otherwise impede gut lining. Bromelain elicits this anti-inflammatory response through reducing production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE-2) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).
Bromelain has further been demonstrated to promote immune health by positively modulating a healthy inflammatory response, crucial for appropriate immune function and response.
Further digestive-enhancing properties of bromelain include studied antimicrobial effects. Bromelain has been found to inhibit production of bacterial enterotoxins and suppress inflammation through downregulation of NF-κB and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways in individuals with diabetes with periodontal disease. Compellingly, bromelain has also been found to be effective against periodontal pathogens, including S. mutans, A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, having implications for oral health. In fact, a 45% overlap exists in the GI and oral microbiome as evidenced by a report published in The Journal of Genome Biology.
Bromelain has been studied for its properties in enhancing microbiome health. A 2022 study published in Pharmaceutics highlighted the bioactive properties of bromelain on the composition of the microbiome in favorable ways, such as increasing the growth of beneficial bacteria while reducing growth of pathogenic bacteria.
A 2024 review highlighted these effects in terms of relieving constipation and improving IBS symptoms through its antimicrobial effects. The pineapple peel has been demonstrated to have antimicrobial properties and reducing constipation, as indicated in a 2024 review in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Bromelain's anti-inflammatory properties have been linked to its properties in modulating GI conditions. Results from a 2022 study published in Metabolites in healthy young mice and a reconstructed human 3D tissue model, used to investigate the effects of fruit proteases on tissue integrity and mucosal permeability, revealed they these enzymes have the potential to modulate gut microbiota by reducing abundance of pathogenic organisms such as Proteobacteria, while increasing beneficial microbiota, including Akkermansia muciniphila, integral for gut barrier function, digestion, inflammation and metabolic health.
Through its modulating effects in terms of GI microbial balance, reducing mucosal inflammation, improving digestive enzyme capacity and overall environmental conditions, bromelain has been implicated to stimulate pancreatic and intestinal function, while also mitigating symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating and gas.
Bromelain has also been found to exhibit antioxidant properties by scavenging and neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals, thereby protecting the cells from damage.
Impeded digestion and GI conditions have been shown to have higher comorbidity with mental health conditions. The GI tract and the brain are intricately connected via various bidirectional neural, neuroendocrine and immune pathways, referred to as the gut-brain axis (GBA). When digestion is impeded, regulatory processes in the body are compromised including microbial, immune and hormonal balance, neurotransmitter synthesis, as well as activity in the amygdala and hippocampus.
Through these multifaceted mechanisms, skin health has also been shown to improve with bromelain use, as adequate digestion is essential for vitality, balance and functioning of our skin.
Similar to the gut and oral microbiome, our skin also comprises an ecosystem of various organisms integral to its health. Diversity promotes synthesis of essential fatty acids and vitamins and modulates inflammation, while protecting against pathogenic microorganisms.
With respect to these proteolytic, nutrient rich properties, pineapples are a nourishing summer fruit, with a host of benefits to our health—body and mind.
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