Bromelain is an aqueous extract from pineapple (Ananas comosus) fruits stems. The active principles in bromelain include a number of protein digesting enzymes. Bromelain has been evidenced to possess significant anti-inflammatory effects and this is often why it is recommended for use in cases of tissue injuries where large scale inflammation is present. As low mood is characterised by inflammation, which results from cortisol induced cellular changes, bromelain may have certain mood elevating effects. For example, in one study, researchers assessed the anti-inflammatory effects of bromelain in patients with knee pain. The results of the study showed that the bromelain was significantly effective at reducing the knee pain in the patients at 200 and 400 mg per day, but more so at the 400 mg per day dose. However, in addition, the wellbeing of the patients also improved. Although these mood effects may relate to pain relief, it is evident that bromelain does have some effect on mood in patients in pain.
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