Evidence supporting the use of: Bromelain
For the health condition: Rhinitis

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme extract derived from pineapples (Ananas comosus), has been investigated for its potential role in the management of rhinitis, particularly allergic rhinitis. The rationale for its use is based primarily on its anti-inflammatory, mucolytic, and immunomodulatory properties. Several in vitro and animal studies suggest that bromelain can modulate cytokine production, reduce inflammation, and decrease nasal mucus viscosity, which could theoretically alleviate nasal congestion and other rhinitis symptoms.

A small number of clinical studies have evaluated bromelain in patients with sinusitis or rhinosinusitis, conditions closely related to rhinitis. For example, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Gupta et al., 2001) found that bromelain supplementation led to a faster recovery and improvement of symptoms in children with acute sinusitis. However, high-quality randomized controlled trials specifically addressing bromelain for allergic or non-allergic rhinitis remain limited. Systematic reviews acknowledge some promise but emphasize the lack of robust, large-scale human data.

In summary, the use of bromelain for rhinitis is supported by a modest amount of scientific evidence, primarily from mechanistic and small clinical studies. While there is biological plausibility and some positive findings, the overall clinical evidence is insufficient to strongly recommend bromelain as a standard therapy for rhinitis. More rigorous and focused trials are needed.

More about bromelain
More about Rhinitis