Re: enzyme challange/That didn't take long

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your post. In the very nicest and sincerest way possible,

I would like to ask which rock your " friend " has been living under?

I am sure Devin could send him reams but just to see what an amateur

could come up with on the first shot, I typed in " bromelain " and got

lots of clinical evidence:

Cell Mol Life Sci 2001 Aug;58(9):1234-45 Related Articles, Books,

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Bromelain: biochemistry, pharmacology and medical use.

Maurer HR.

Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology,

Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany.

hrmaurer@...

Bromelain is a crude extract from the pineapple that contains, among

other components, various closely related proteinases,

demonstrating, in vitro and in vivo, antiedematous,

antiinflammatory, antithrombotic and fibrinolytic activities. The

active factors involved are biochemically characterized only in

part. Due to its efficacy after oral administration, its safety and

lack of undesired side effects, bromelain has earned growing

acceptance and compliance among patients as a phytotherapeutical

drug. A wide range of therapeutic benefits has been claimed for

bromelain, such as reversible inhibition of platelet aggregation,

angina pectoris, bronchitis, sinusitis, surgical traumas,

thrombophlebitis, pyelonephritis and enhanced absorption of drugs,

particularly of antibiotics. Biochemical experiments indicate that

these pharmacological properties depend on the proteolytic activity

only partly, suggesting the presence of nonprotein factors in

bromelain. Recent results from preclinical and pharmacological

studies recommend bromelain as an orally given drug for

complementary tumor therapy: bromelain acts as an immunomodulator by

raising the impaired immunocytotoxicity of monocytes against tumor

cells from patients and by inducing the production of distinct

cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin (Il)-1beta,

Il-6, and Il-8. In a recent clinical study with mammary tumor

patients, these findings could be partially confirmed. Especially

promising are reports on animal experiments claiming an

antimetastatic efficacy and inhibition of metastasis-associated

platelet aggregation as well as inhibition of growth and

invasiveness of tumor cells. Apparently, the antiinvasive activity

does not depend on the proteolytic activity. This is also true for

bromelain effects on the modulation of immune functions, its

potential to eliminate burn debris and to accelerate wound healing.

Whether bromelain will gain wide acceptance as a drug that inhibits

platelet aggregation, is antimetastatic and facilitates skin

debridement, among other indications, will be determined by further

clinical trials. The claim that bromelain cannot be effective after

oral administration is definitely refuted at this time.

Publication Types:

Review

Review, Academic

PMID: 11577981 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Here is one effective with cancer treatment. There are tons of

articles on cancer:

Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2001 Jul;47 Suppl:S4-9 Related Articles,

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Modulation of growth factor binding properties of alpha2-

macroglobulin by enzyme therapy.

Lauer D, Muller R, Cott C, Otto A, Naumann M, Birkenmeier G.

Institute of Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Germany.

PURPOSE: To investigate the binding of transforming growth factor-

beta (TGF-beta) to human alpha2-macroglobulin upon oral treatment of

patients with proteases. METHODS: Volunteers were given a cocktail

of active proteinases (Phlogenzym) composed of trypsin, bromelain

and the additive rutoside orally over a period of 7 days at low dose

followed by a bolus application. Before and after medication plasma

was immediately withdrawn and binding of 125I-TGF-beta to the

proteinase inhibitor alpha2-macroglobulin was determined by

electrophoresis and gamma-counting. Cell culture experiments were

performed to study the effect of transformed alpha2-macroglobulin on

TGF-beta-stimulated proliferation of skin fibroblasts. RESULTS:

Ingestion of proteinases was found to trigger the formation of

intermediate forms of alpha2-macroglobulin displaying high affinity

to TGF-beta. Maximum binding of TGF-beta was observed 1-2 h after

bolus ingestion, and steadily levelled off with time. In vitro

experiments demonstrated that complex formation of diverse

proteinases (trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, bromelain and plasmin)

with alpha2-macroglobulin conferred binding of 125I-TGF-beta, alpha2-

Macroglobulin transformed by methylamine or proteinases was found to

abolish the TGF-beta effect on fibroblasts in cell culture.

CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal absorption of proteinases triggers the

formation of TGF-beta binding species of alpha2-macroglobulin in

blood. Mediated by this process high concentrations of TGF-beta

might be reduced via enhanced clearance of alpha2-macroglobulin-TGF-

beta complexes. Thus, proteinase therapy may have beneficial effects

in treatment of fibrosis and certain cancers accompanied by

excessively high TGF-beta concentrations.

PMID: 11561872 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Bromelain helps immune systems:

Cell Immunol 2001 May 25;210(1):5-10 Related Articles, LinkOut,

Books

Bromelain activates murine macrophages and natural killer cells in

vitro.

Eur J Med Res 2001 May 29;6(5):193-200 Related Articles, Books

Bromelain is an accelerator of phagocytosis, respiratory burst and

Killing of Candida albicans by human granulocytes and monocytes.

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How about helping arthritis:

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2001 May-Jun;19(3):303-9 Related Articles, Books,

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Inhibitory effect of enzyme therapy and combination therapy with

cyclosporin A on collagen-induced arthritis.

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How about compared to NSAIDS

Arzneimittelforschung 2000 Aug;50(8):728-38 Related Articles, Books

[Comparative epidemiological study in patients with rheumatic

diseases illustrated in a example of a treatment with non-steroidal

anti- inflammatory drugs versus an oral enzyme combination

preparation]

[Article in German]

Wittenborg A, Bock PR, Hanisch J, Saller R, Schneider B.

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Don't forget colitis:

Ann Intern Med 2000 Apr 18;132(8):680 Related Articles, LinkOut,

Books

Use of bromelain for mild ulcerative colitis.

PMID: 10766699

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Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech 2001;68(1):45-9 Related Articles,

Books

[Article in Czech]

Kamenicek V, Holan P, Franek P.

CONCLUSION: The authors verified that systemic enzyme therapy could

influence significantly the results of traumatological surgery.

Simple administration per os, efficient oedema reduction and thus

accelerated healing, antiophlogistic and analgesic effect--all these

advantages justify the application of this therapeutic method what

can be recommended as a part of the complex treatment in

traumatology with both conservative and surgical approaches.

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J Assoc Physicians India 2001 Jun;49:617-21 Related Articles, Books

Efficacy and tolerability of oral enzyme therapy as compared to

diclofenac in active osteoarthrosis of knee joint: an open

randomized controlled clinical trial.

CONCLUSION: Phlogenzym is as efficacious and well tolerated as

diclofenac sodium in the management of active osteoarthrosis over

three weeks of treatment.

PMID: 11584936

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Enzymes are a very budding therapy for HIV patients:

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2001 Oct;15(10):1619-25 Related Articles,

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Efficacy of oral pancreatic enzyme therapy for the treatment of fat

malabsorption in HIV-infected patients.

CONCLUSIONS: This pilot, open-label study showed that pancreatic

enzyme supplementation therapy is highly effective in reducing

faecal fat loss in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

with nutrient malabsorption. Further double-blind studies must be

undertaken to verify these results and, if they are confirmed,

pancreatic enzymes can be added to our weapons in the fight against

human immunodeficiency virus-associated nutrient malabsorption.

PMID: 11564002

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For amylase:

J Trop Pediatr 1998 Feb;44(1):4-9 Related Articles, Books

Adding alpha-amylase to weaning food to increase dietary intake in

children. A randomized controlled trial.

den Besten L, Glatthaar II, Ijsselmuiden CB.

Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Medical

University of Southern Africa, Medunsa, South Africa.

The addition of alpha-amylase to a food supplement for weaning-age

children was proposed as an alternative to traditionally prepared

Amylase-Rich Foods (ARF) for reducing the dietary bulk of weaning

diets. In a self-controlled clinical trial including 30 healthy

children, aged 10-24 months, the effect of the addition of alpha-

amylase and extra cereal to a diet including three meals, was

determined in terms of dietary intake. A mean increased intake of

23.8 per cent in energy and 10.4 per cent in protein was found. The

addition of commercial alpha-amylase to maize-based weaning foods is

a useful method of increasing the nutritional value of weaning diets.

Publication Types:

Clinical Trial

Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 9538598

Sorry, there were so many I just didn't even get to

entercolitis,

Gaucher disease,

other cancers,

lipases,

allergies,

pacreatitis,

Crohn's disease, or

celiac (remember the amylase) for starters. If your " friend " has a

particular condition or enzyme claim he would like some information

on, I will be happy to look for it. But it would help if he could

narrow the search because there are hundreds of references to go

through.

.