Reviews and Information for Bromelain
Digestive Enzymes
Trying to find the best digestive enzyme supplement? We found major differences in their strengths. See our tests, comparisons, and Top Picks. Also learn about pancreatin, proteases including bromelain and papain, lipase, amylase and more. Get the evidence for use for digestive symptoms and other conditions, as well side-effects and cautions.
Digestive Enzymes Review
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Product Review
Protein Powders, Shakes, and Meal Replacements Review
Find Out Which Protein Products Passed or Failed Our Tests
CL Answer
Which supplements are best for seasonal allergies?
Find out which supplements are best for allergies and can help reduce seasonal allergy symptoms, including bromelain, curcumin, vitamin D, and CLA.
CL Answer
Do any supplements help for ulcerative colitis?
Find out what supplements & vitamins can help with ulcerative colitis, such as VSL#3, curcumin, aloe or boswellia.
CL Answer
Are there any supplements I should avoid when taking an antibiotic? Are there any that may be helpful?
Find out which supplements can negatively interact with antibiotics, including vitamin K, magnesium, and calcium, and which may be helpful when taking antibiotics.
CL Answer
I take warfarin (Coumadin), an anticoagulant drug. Are there supplements I should avoid, or be taking, due to this drug?
Find out which supplements should be avoided when taking blood thinners (anticoagulants) like warfarin (Coumadin), including vitamin K, St. John's wort, and curcumin.
CL Answer
Do any supplements help treat or reduce the pain of plantar fasciitis (heel pain)?
Plantar fasciitis causing heel pain has, in rare cases, been reported as a symptom of vitamin D deficiency. Other supplements that have been proposed to help include vitamin C, zinc, curcumin (from turmeric), bromelain, collagen and glucosamine. Find out what the evidence shows, and what other treatments may help.
Clinical Update
3/24/2023
Bromelain Supplements on Amazon Fail Tests
Only four of 20 brands of bromelain purchased on Amazon provided the enzyme activity expected from their labels, three of which had no detectable enzyme activity, according to a recent report. For details by brand, see the Quality Concerns section of our Digestive Enzyme Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks among digestive enzyme products.
CL Answer
Which supplements help for osteoarthritis of the hip?
Supplements for hip pain and osteoarthritis, such as SAMe, ginger and collagen, may help or reduce pain.
CL Answer
What supplements should I stop taking before surgery?
Info on which supplements to avoid before surgery due to increased risk of bleeding or interference with anesthesia.
CL Answer
Do Any Supplements Improve Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) or Make It Worse?
Find out if any supplements, topical formulations (patches, rinses, lozenges, toothpastes, sprays, gels or gums), or lifestyle modifications reduce dry mouths symptoms.
Clinical Update
9/21/2021
Enzyme Supplements for Eye Floaters?
Can enzyme supplements (bromelain, papain and ficin) reduce eye floaters? Find out what a recent study suggests in the What They Do section of our Digestive Enzyme Supplements Review.
Also see our answer to the question: Do any supplements help prevent or reduce eye floaters?
Product Review
Olive Leaf Extract Supplements Review
Learn What Olive Leaf Does and the Best Brands
Product Review
Lion's Mane and Chaga Supplements Review
Read Labels Carefully -- Many Can Mislead
Product Review
Electrolytes & Sports Drinks Review
See Which Sports Drinks, Powders, and Pills Deliver the Right Electrolytes
Product Review
Lavender and Tea Tree Essential Oils Review
Oils Tested for Authenticity and Purity
Product Review
B Vitamin Supplements Review (B Complexes, B6, B12, Biotin, Folate, Niacin, Riboflavin & More)
See Our Top Picks and Which 5 Failed Testing
CL Answer
What are the health benefits of serrapeptase?
Serrapeptase is a proteolytic enzyme. Learn more about its health effects, including whether evidence supports its use for pain, inflammation, and heart health.
Product Review
Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements Review
Best Multivitamins -- Caution with Gummies
Product Review
Vitamin D Supplements Review (Including Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin K, and Boron)
Find the Best Vitamin D Supplement and Avoid Problems
CL Answer
Do any supplements help prevent or treat a cold?
Are there supplements that can help prevent or treat cold symptoms? Learn more about zinc, probiotics, vitamin C and more.
CL Answer
What is Skinny Fiber and does it really work? I see that glucomannan is a key ingredient. What is that?
Learn more about Skinny Fiber, including its key ingredient glucomannan, evidence from clinical studies, dosage info, and safety.
CL Answer
After taking a curcumin supplement, I started getting chronic diarrhea which went away when I stopped taking it. Can curcumin supplements cause diarrhea?
Learn more about the side effects of curcumin supplements, including diarrhea and other gastrointestinal discomfort.
CL Answer
Are there supplements I should avoid when taking apixaban (Eliquis) or similar blood thinner drugs like Xarelto?
Learn about supplement interactions with apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and other blood thinner drugs in the direct factor Xa inhibitors class.
CL Answer
Do any supplements help with gum disease or periodontitis?
Supplements for healthy gums may help with gum disease or periodontitis. Learn more about omega fatty acids, lycopene, and probiotics.
Product Review
Nattokinase Supplements Review
Choose the Best Nattokinase Supplement. CL Tests Reveal Which Nattokinase Suppplements Provide the Best Quality & Value.
Product Review
Fruits, Veggies, and Other Greens Supplements Review (Including Spirulina and Chlorella)
Avoid Lead in Greens, Problems with Pills, and Don't Give Up Eating Whole Foods.
CL Answer
Do any supplements help prevent or reduce eye floaters?
Find out eye floaters (vitreous floaters) be treated with supplements like vitamin C, lutein, ginkgo, milk thistle, collagen or hyaluronic acid, or with products such as VitreousHealth.
CL Answer
I read that turmeric may be a GI irritant. I have GI problems and wonder if I should avoid turmeric and curcumin?
Find out if turmeric/curcumin supplements can cause gastrointestinal irritability.
Product Review
Zinc Supplements, Lozenges, and Melts Review
Find the Best Zinc Supplements, Including Lozenges for Colds.
Product Review
Vitamin K Supplements Review (Including Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium & Boron)
Find Out If It's Worth Taking Vitamin K and Which Products Are Best
CL Answer
Which supplements help with arthritis?
Learn more about supplements for joint health, including products such as Wobenzym and Zyflamend and ingredients such as collagen, curcumin, glucosamine and chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), SAMe, and others.
Product Review
Calcium and Bone Health Supplements Review (Including Vitamins D & K, Magnesium and Boron)
See Which Bone Health Supplements Are Top Picks and Which Fail
Product Review
Iron Supplements Review (Iron Pills, Liquids and Chews)
See Which Iron Supplements Are CL's Top Picks for Different Needs
Product Review
Joint Health Supplements Review (Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, Boswellia, Collagen and Turmeric)
18% of Joint Health Supplements Failed to Pass Our Tests. See Which Passed or Failed, and Our Top Picks.
CL Answer
Black Pepper Extract & Turmeric: Is black pepper extract necessary for turmeric to be effective, and is it safe?
Find out the best way to take turmeric and curcumin supplements to increase absorption and bioavailability. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.
CL Answer
Which supplements help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer?
Find out which supplements may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, including folate, fiber, selenium, and vitamin D.
CL Answer
Are Hormone Harmony and other Happy Mammoth Supplements Worth Taking?
Are the supplements Hormone Harmony, Hormone Harmony Plus+, Prebiotic Collagen Protein, or Bloat Banisher by Happy Mammoth likely to be beneficial for menopause symptoms or digestive health? Find out.
News Release
May 15, 2019
ConsumerLab Tests Reveal Big Differences in Digestive Enzyme Supplements
White Plains, New York, May 15, 2019 — Digestive enzyme supplements can help improve digestion and the absorption of nutrients, and may reduce symptoms of indigestion. But to work, they must provide a certain amount of enzyme activity.
Product Review
Magnesium Supplements Review (Including Calcium, Vitamins D & K, and Boron)
Find Out What Magnesium Does, Who Needs It, and Our Top Picks Among Supplements
CL Answer
8 Red Flags to Watch Out For When Buying Vitamins & Supplements
When it comes to buying vitamins and supplements, it's buyer beware. ConsumerLab explains eight red flags to look out for on labels when choosing and buying vitamins or supplements, including claims of "FDA Approved" laboratories, what to look for in the ingredient list, and more.
CL Answer
Which supplements and foods help with gout and which may worsen it?
Find out about the effects on uric acid levels and gout of fish and fish oil, coffee, beer, animal meat, milk proteins, vegetable proteins, fructose, lemon juice, tart cherry juice, vitamin A, vitamin C, and niacin
CL Answer
What are the health benefits of tart cherry juice?
See the evidence for tart cherry juice health benefits from clinical studies. Find out if tart cherry has anti-inflammatory effects, if it can improve sleep, lower high blood pressure, or help for muscle pain and osteoarthritis.
Recalls & Warnings
September 28, 2022
FDA Warns Muscle Sports for Joint Health, Immune & Workout Supplement, Vitamin C, Elderberry, and Other Claims
On September 23, 2022, the FDA issued a warning letter to Muscle Sports Products, LLC following inspection of the company’s websites which found statements about company products, including Join Revolution Capsules, IMMUNITY + Powder, Rhino Rampage PUMPED Capsules, Attack Pre-Workout ...
News Release
February 16, 2011
Some turmeric and curcumin supplements fail quality review -- ConsumerLab.com finds 20% of turmeric supplements selected for review deliver less than 15% of promised compounds
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK — FEBRUARY 16, 2011 — Supplements containing the herb turmeric or its key compound, curcumin, have become popular in the U.S. ConsumerLab.com cautioned today that two out of ten turmeric products recently selected for quality testing were found to provide only 7.
CL Answer
Here’s What You Should Look For In Toothpaste and Mouthwash, and Our Top Picks
Learn about ingredients you want in your toothpaste, mouthwash and other dental products and which ingredients you may want to avoid.
Recalls & Warnings
September 10, 2012
Maker of Concussion Recovery Supplement Warned For Making Drug Claims
On August 28, 2012, the FDA issued a warning letter to Trinity Sports Group, Inc. after a review of the company's websites found statements about Neuro Impact Concussion Response Formula constituted drug claims not permitted on supplements.
Recalls & Warnings
August 29, 2017
FDA Warns Seller of Supplements for Allergies, Joint Pain, Bone Health, and More
On August 16, 2017, the FDA issued a warning letter to Total Nutrition, Inc.
Recalls & Warnings
February 28, 2017
Multivitamin Recalled Due to Allergen Risk
On February 14, 2017, Licata Enterprises issued a recall of all lots of its Supreme One and Theravits 100 multiple vitamins because they contain fish liver oil but is labeled as containing "no common allergens.
Recalls & Warnings
December 16, 2013
Weight Loss Capsules Recalled Due Allergen Risk
On December 13, 2013, Stone Independent Research, Inc. issued recall of one lot of Zanocap Scientific Weight Loss 500 mg capsules because they contain undeclared whey protein, which is derived from milk.
Recalls & Warnings
April 23, 2013
Seller of Digestion, Thyroid and Vitamin D Supplements Warned For Drug Claims
On November 5, 2012, the FDA issued a warning letter to The Women's Health Institute at Texas following a review of the company's various websites which found statements made about Digest + SEB, Iodine Plus 2, and D5000 Vitamin D dietary supplements to be drug claims.
Recalls & Warnings
January 24, 2013
Food for Health Warned for Manufacturing Violations and Drug Claims on Supplements
On October 5, 2012, the FDA issued a warning letter to Food for Health International, LLC following a facility inspection which found the company's products, including Activz brand Vitamin D, Potassium Iodine, Organic Vitamin C, Whole 9 (a fruit and vegetable meal replacement shake) Control and VMA ...
Recalls & Warnings
November 21, 2012
Maker of Blood Pressure, Probiotic, Resveratrol and Hormonal Supplements Warned For Manufacturing Violations and Drug Claims
On November 2, 2012, the FDA issued a warning letter to Atrium, Inc. following a facility inspection which found a number of the company's dietary supplements to be adulterated or promoted as drugs.
Recalls & Warnings
February 13, 2013
Manufacturer of Heart, Multivitamin, Cranberry, and Longevity Supplements Warned For Adulteration and Drug Claims
On January 29, 2013, the FDA issued a warning letter to M.D.R. Fitness Corp. following a facility inspection which found violations of good manufacturing practices which cause the company's products to be adulterated.
