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Bromelain Side Effects & Safety

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Full disclaimer

Safety Profile

Overall safety rating: Generally Safe

Potential Side Effects

  • Mild gastrointestinal discomfort (diarrhea, nausea) in some users
  • Allergic reactions possible in individuals with pineapple allergy
  • Increased heart rate at very high doses (rare)
  • May increase bleeding tendency — discontinue 2 weeks before surgery

Drug & Supplement Interactions

  • Anticoagulants (warfarin, aspirin, heparin) — bromelain has fibrinolytic activity and may increase bleeding risk
  • Antibiotics (amoxicillin, tetracyclines) — bromelain may increase antibiotic absorption and tissue levels
  • Sedatives — bromelain may potentiate sedative effects (theoretical)

Maximum Dose

Do not exceed: Up to 2,400 GDU/day (960mg) has been used in clinical trials without significant adverse effects

References

  1. (). Bromelain as a treatment for osteoarthritis: a review of clinical studies. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. DOI
  2. (). Therapeutic use, efficiency and safety of the proteolytic pineapple enzyme Bromelain-POS in children with acute sinusitis in Germany. In Vivo.
  3. (). Oral enzyme combination versus diclofenac in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Clinical Rheumatology. DOI