Bromelain for Endometriosis Pain: A Case Study

study PMID: 35463839

Quick Summary: A woman with endometriosis found relief from headaches, back pain, and period pain after taking bromelain and other supplements. This case study suggests bromelain might help manage pain, but more research is needed.

Can Bromelain Help with Endometriosis Pain?

This case report looked at how a woman with endometriosis managed her pain. She took bromelain (an enzyme from pineapple) along with other supplements and treatments. The results showed a significant decrease in her pain levels. This included fewer headaches, less back pain, and less painful periods.

Study Details

Who was studied: A 32-year-old woman diagnosed with endometriosis.

How long: The study followed her for 12 weeks (about 3 months).

What they took: She took bromelain (500mg twice a day) along with magnesium, vitamin B6, omega-3 fatty acids, physical therapy, and dietary changes.

What This Means For You

Pain Relief: If you have endometriosis, this study suggests bromelain might help reduce pain, but it's not a guarantee.

Combined Approach: The woman in the study used bromelain as part of a larger plan that included other supplements, physical therapy, and dietary changes.

Talk to Your Doctor: Before trying bromelain or any new supplement, talk to your doctor. They can help you decide if it's right for you and if it will interact with any medications you're taking.

Study Limitations

One Person: This study only looked at one person. We can't know for sure if bromelain would work for everyone.

Other Treatments: The woman also used other treatments, so it's hard to know how much of the improvement was due to bromelain alone.

More Research Needed: More studies are needed to confirm these findings and understand how bromelain works.

Key Findings

This case report observed that a multimodal supplement regimen containing bromelain (500 mg twice daily) reduced headache frequency, lumbopelvic pain, and dysmenorrhea in a 32-year-old woman with endometriosis. Headache days per month decreased from 15 to 2, lumbopelvic pain intensity dropped from 7/10 to 2/10 on a visual analog scale (VAS), and dysmenorrhea severity fell from 8/10 to 3/10. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use also declined from daily to occasional. However, as a single-patient case report, these findings lack statistical validation and cannot establish causality.

Study Design

The study employed a single-subject observational case report design with a 12-week follow-up period. It focused on a 32-year-old female with endometriosis, headaches, and lumbopelvic pain. Data were collected via self-reported pain scores and medication logs. No control group, randomization, or blinding was used, limiting the ability to draw definitive conclusions.

Dosage & Administration

Bromelain was administered as 500 mg orally twice daily alongside other supplements (magnesium, vitamin B6, and omega-3 fatty acids). The regimen was part of a broader conservative management approach including physical therapy and dietary changes. Timing of bromelain intake relative to meals or symptoms was not specified.

Results & Efficacy

The patient reported clinically meaningful improvements:
- Headache frequency: 15 days/month → 2 days/month.
- Lumbopelvic pain: VAS 7/10 → 2/10.
- Dysmenorrhea: VAS 8/10 → 3/10.
NSAID use decreased by ~80%. However, the study did not perform statistical analysis (e.g., p-values or confidence intervals) due to the single-subject design. Efficacy cannot be attributed solely to bromelain, as outcomes were confounded by concurrent interventions.

Limitations

Key limitations include:
1. Lack of control group or randomization: Inability to isolate bromelain’s effects from other therapies.
2. Subjective outcomes: Reliance on self-reported pain scores without objective biomarkers.
3. Small sample size: Single-patient data cannot generalize to broader populations.
4. Short duration: 12-week follow-up does not assess long-term safety or efficacy.
Future research should prioritize randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate bromelain independently in endometriosis patients.

Clinical Relevance

This case suggests bromelain may support pain management in endometriosis when combined with other therapies, but evidence remains preliminary. Users should consult healthcare providers before use, especially alongside medications. The findings highlight the potential for integrative approaches in endometriosis care but underscore the need for rigorous trials to confirm bromelain’s role. For now, it cannot be recommended as a standalone treatment.