Serrapeptase for Breast Engorgement: Does It Help?
Quick Summary: Research suggests Serrapeptase might help with painful breast engorgement during breastfeeding, but the evidence is limited. More studies are needed to know for sure.
What The Research Found
A study looked at Serrapeptase for women with breast engorgement (swollen, painful breasts) while breastfeeding. The study found that Serrapeptase seemed to help reduce pain, swelling, and hardening in the breasts compared to a placebo (a "dummy" pill). However, the study was small, and more research is needed to confirm these findings. Other treatments like Gua-Sha therapy and acupuncture showed mixed results.
Study Details
- Who was studied: Women who were breastfeeding and experiencing breast engorgement.
- How long: The study's duration is not specified in the summary.
- What they took: The study used Serrapeptase, but the dosage and how it was taken are not specified in the summary.
What This Means For You
If you're struggling with breast engorgement, Serrapeptase might offer some relief. However, because the research is limited, it's important to:
- Talk to your doctor or a lactation consultant: They can give you the best advice based on your individual situation.
- Consider other proven methods: These may include:
- Applying cold packs to your breasts
- Ensuring proper latching while breastfeeding
- Other methods recommended by your doctor.
Study Limitations
- Small study: The research on Serrapeptase was based on a single, small study.
- More research needed: More studies are needed to confirm if Serrapeptase is effective and safe for breast engorgement.
- Missing details: The summary doesn't provide information on the dosage or how long the women took Serrapeptase.
Technical Analysis Details
Key Findings
The meta-analysis identified one trial evaluating serrapeptase for breast engorgement during lactation. Serrapeptase demonstrated some relief in breast pain, induration (hardening), and swelling compared to placebo, with fewer women reporting slight to no improvement in overall symptoms. However, the evidence was limited to low-quality data from a single study, and no pooled meta-analysis was possible. Other interventions like Gua-Sha therapy and acupuncture showed mixed results, but the authors emphasized insufficient evidence to recommend any treatment widely.
Study Design
This 2016 Cochrane systematic review analyzed 13 randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials involving 919 women (or individual breasts in three studies). The serrapeptase trial was one of four medical interventions assessed. Study durations and follow-up periods were not explicitly detailed in the provided summary.
Dosage & Administration
The dosage, administration method, and duration of serrapeptase treatment were not reported in the provided study summary. Other trials in the review used varying protocols (e.g., protease complex at unspecified doses), but specifics for serrapeptase were absent.
Results & Efficacy
The serrapeptase study reported qualitative improvements in breast pain, induration, and swelling versus placebo, but quantitative effect sizes (e.g., mean differences, risk ratios) and statistical metrics (p-values, confidence intervals) were not provided in the summary. For context, other interventions in the review showed:
- Gua-Sha therapy: Significant reductions in engorgement (MD -2.42), pain (MD -2.01), and discomfort (MD -2.33) at 5 minutes post-treatment.
- Protease complex: Reduced risk of no improvement in pain (RR 0.17) and swelling (RR 0.34) by day 4.
- Acupuncture: Lower abscess risk (RR 0.20) but no effect on breastfeeding cessation.
Limitations
The serrapeptase trial’s results were based on low-quality evidence with unclear methodology (sample size, dosage, and statistical significance not reported). Overall, the review highlighted:
- High risk of bias due to small sample sizes, lack of blinding, and inconsistent outcome measures.
- Only single studies contributed data for most interventions, limiting robust conclusions.
- Attrition bias in some trials (e.g., electromechanical massage study with high dropout rates).
- Over 40-year-old protease complex trial, raising concerns about modern applicability.
Clinical Relevance
While serrapeptase showed anecdotal promise for reducing breast engorgement symptoms, the lack of rigorous data (e.g., sample size, exact effect sizes) prevents definitive recommendations. Lactating women should consult healthcare providers for evidence-based strategies like proper latch techniques or cold packs, as the review found insufficient support for widespread use of any intervention. Future trials with larger samples, standardized protocols, and long-term follow-up are needed to validate serrapeptase’s potential role in managing engorgement.
Note: The analysis is constrained by the summary’s omission of serrapeptase’s dosage, sample size, and statistical values (e.g., p-values, CIs), which limits critical evaluation of its efficacy.
Original Study Reference
Treatments for breast engorgement during lactation.
Source: PubMed
Published: 2016
📄 Read Full Study (PMID: 27351423)
