Supplementation Containing Bromelain on the Side Effects of Oncological Treatment: Systematic Review.

2025-05-15
Journal of medicinal food 28(6)
- Irislene Costa Pereira
- Raquel Barros Passos
- Camila de Meneses Caetano Viana
- Isabele Frazão Mascarenhas
- Glauto Tuquarre de Melo Nascimento
- Felipe Cavalcanti Carneiro da Silva
- João Marcelo de Castro E Sousa
- Francisco Leonardo Torres-Leal

PubMed: 40372963
DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2023.0027

Study Design

Type: Systematic Review
Methods: This systematic review was developed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, using the terms: Cancer AND Bromelain. 239 studies were retrieved, and only three met our objective.

Systemic therapies for the treatment of cancer collaborate to reduce cancer progression and have been used for decades. However, despite the clinical benefits, its long-term use is associated with toxicity, promoting important side effects that can compromise the quality of life. Enzyme supplementation has been pointed out as a therapeutic potential in several diseases. Bromelain is an enzyme complex that regulates pathways associated with inflammation. This review aims to evaluate the use of bromelain-containing supplements to improve the side effects of cancer treatment. This systematic review was developed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, using the terms: Cancer AND Bromelain. 239 studies were retrieved, and only three met our objective. In general, it was possible to observe that supplementation was able to reduce side effects of adjuvant hormone therapy and chemotherapy, such as mucosal dryness, arthralgia, and peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy.

Research Insights

Bromelain→Reduced Arthralgia
supplementation was able to reduce side effects of adjuvant hormone therapy and chemotherapy, such as mucosal dryness, arthralgia, and peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Bromelain→Reduced Mucosal Dryness
supplementation was able to reduce side effects of adjuvant hormone therapy and chemotherapy, such as mucosal dryness, arthralgia, and peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Bromelain→Reduced Peripheral Neuropathy
supplementation was able to reduce side effects of adjuvant hormone therapy and chemotherapy, such as mucosal dryness, arthralgia, and peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small

Adverse Events Reported

Bromelain→arthralgia
supplementation was able to reduce side effects of adjuvant hormone therapy and chemotherapy, such as mucosal dryness, arthralgia, and peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy.
Finding
Reported
Bromelain→mucosal dryness
supplementation was able to reduce side effects of adjuvant hormone therapy and chemotherapy, such as mucosal dryness, arthralgia, and peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy.
Finding
Reported
Bromelain→peripheral neuropathy
supplementation was able to reduce side effects of adjuvant hormone therapy and chemotherapy, such as mucosal dryness, arthralgia, and peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy.
Finding
Reported