Evidence supporting the use of: Proteolytic enzymes
For the body system: Joints
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Proteolytic enzymes, also known as proteases, have been studied for their potential benefits in supporting joint health, primarily due to their anti-inflammatory properties. These enzymes, which include bromelain (from pineapple), papain (from papaya), and animal-derived enzymes like trypsin and chymotrypsin, are thought to help break down inflammatory mediators and reduce swelling and pain associated with joint conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Some clinical studies and systematic reviews suggest that proteolytic enzymes may provide modest relief from pain and improve joint function, often comparable to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but typically with fewer gastrointestinal side effects [1]. However, while there is a body of scientific research supporting their use, the quality of evidence is mixed, and results are not universally consistent. Many studies are small, lack rigorous blinding, or have methodological limitations. Consequently, major clinical guidelines do not universally recommend proteolytic enzymes as a standard treatment for joint disorders, but they are sometimes used as adjunct therapy. In summary, proteolytic enzymes have some scientific backing for their use in supporting joint health, particularly for their anti-inflammatory effects, but the evidence is moderate rather than robust.
[1] Brien S, Lewith G, Walker A, Hicks SM, Middleton D. Bromelain as a Treatment for Osteoarthritis: A Review of Clinical Studies. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2004;1(3):251-257.
Other ingredients that support Joints
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acidAbuta
Achyranthes
Alfalfa
Algae
algal oil
amino acids
Amor seco
anamu
anemarrhena asphodeloides
animal protein
animal Tissue
antler
Aralia
arnica
ashitaba
Asteraceae
avian cartilage
avocado
ba ji tian
babchi
baicalein
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
balsam
Barleria
barrenwort
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bee products
bee venom
Bergenia
berry
beta caryophyllene
Bidens pilosa
Biopeptide
birch
bishop\'s weed
black cumin
black currant
black galingale
black ginger
black gram
black poplar
black seed
Black willow
bladderwrack
Boerhavia diffusa
bogbean
Bombax
bone
bone protein
boneset
borage
borage oil
boron
Boswellia
Boswellic Acid
bovine
bovine cartilage / glycosaminoglycan
bovine protein
broccoli
bromelain
Bryonia
bugbane
burdock
Butea monosperma
cabbage leaf
calamari oil
Calanus finmarchicus
camphor oil
Campsiandra angustifolia
cannabidiol
capsaicin
capsicum
Carthamus
cartilage
caryophyllene
cat's claw
cayenne pepper
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
Cetylated Fatty Acids
chaff flower
chebulinic acid
cherry
chickweed
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese salvia root
Chinese silkvine
chondroitin
chuchuhuasi
Cinnamomum
cinquefoil
Cissus quadrangularis
Cissus sicyoides
clematis
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum phlomidis
cod liver oil
coix
collagen
comfrey
commiphora
copaiba oil
coriander
cowslip
Curculigo orchioides
Curcuma
curcumen
curcumin
Curcuminoid
currant
cuspidatum root
Cyathula
Cymbopogon martini
deer root
deer velvet
devil's claw
devil\'s club
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
dioscorea
Dipsacus
dog rose
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
Drynaria
Dwarf Nettle
Ecklonia
egg
eicosapentaenoic acid
elephant vine
elk antler
emu oil
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
escin
eucommia
Eucommia ulmoides
European five-finger grass
evening primrose oil
evening primrose oil
fang-feng
fat liver oil
fatty acids
figwort
fir
fish
fish oil
fish protein
flavonoids
flavonols
flaxseed
Flemingia philippinensis
flowering quince
frankincense
fructoborate
gamma linolenic acid (GLA)
ganoderma
garden cress
gastrodia
Gentiana macrophylla
ginger
glucosamine
Glycine
Glycosaminoglycans
Gnaphalium
gokhru
Golden Willow
gooseberry
gotu kola
gravel root
green-lipped mussel
Guaiac
Guazuma ulmifolia
guggul
Guggulsterones
hairy arnica
Harpagoside
heal-all
Heartsease
Hedychium spicatum
henna
herbal blend (proprietary)
horse gram
horsetail
hyaluronic acid
hydroxyproline
Hygrophila
Immortelle
Indian coraltree
Indian frankincense
Indian nightshade
Indian sarsparilla
Indian tinospora
Iporuru
iridoids
Japanese kadsura
Job\'s tears
joe-pye
juniper berries
Kigelia africana
knotgrass
knotweed
Kokilaksha
krill oil
L-proline
Ledebouriella
Ligusticum
Lithothamnion
little ironweed
Loranthus
manganese
mangiferin
Marine fat
Marine lipid
Marine protein
Marjoram
Marking Nut Tree
Marsh Tea
Meadowsweet
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Microcrystalline hydroxyapatite concentrate (MCHC)
Milk
Millettia
Mineral ascorbate
Morinda
Moringa
Mucopolysaccharide
mustard seed
Myrrh
N-acetyl-glucosamine
Nettle
Nigella seed
Nimbidin
noni
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
omega-6 fatty acids
Oroxylum indicum
Osthole
Oxindole alkaloids
paederia foetida
paeoniflorin
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Pansit-pansitan
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
peony
Peptides
Petiveria
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
Phlomis umbrosa
Physalis angulata
phytocannabinoids
pine bark
pineapple
plantain
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Polygonatum
Polygonum
polyphenols
polyunsaturated fat
poplar
Portulaca
Premna
prepared aconite tuber
prickly ash
protein
proteoglycans
proteolytic enzymes
Puerarin
punarnava
Pycnogenol
Qin Jiao
queen of the meadow
quercetin
red clover
Rehmannia
rehmannia glutinosa
rhizome
Rhododendron
Rhus coraria
Rhus coriaria
rockweed
rose hips
rosmarinic acid
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
Rubus
rue
Salicin
Salmon Oil
SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
Sanicle
Sargassum
Sargentodoxa
sarsaparilla
Sassafras
Schizochytrium Oil
scrophularia root
seaweed
Semecarpus anacardium
serratiopeptidase
sesame
Shikonin
Shilajit
Sichuan Lovage
Sida cordifolia
Siegesbeckia
siler root
silica
silicon
Silkmoth
Sinomenium acutum
Skunkvine
Smartweed
smilax
solomon's seal
Spanish Needle
Spatholobus
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Spiraea
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sweet Bay
Szechuan lovage
Tasmannia lanceolata
Taxillus chinensis
Taxillus sutchuenensis
Tayuya
Tea
teasel
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Thymoquinone
Tinospora cordifolia
Triphala
Triterpenes
turmeric
Turmerones
Tynanthus panurensis
Uncaria
Uraria picta
Vegetable Protein
vitamin C
vitamin D
Vladimiria souliei
White Poplar
white willow
Wild yam
Willow
Willow Bracket
Wintergreen
Withanolides
Wrightia tinctoria
Yucca
zanthoxylum
Zedoary
Other body systems supported by proteolytic enzymes
BloodCirculatory System
Digestive System
Gastrointestinal Tract
Immune System
Intestinal System
Joints
Muscles
Small Intestines