Q: What does this product do?
A: This formula is a digestive enzyme. This is the Health Canada approved use (NPN 80142901). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Q: What is bromelain?
A: Bromelain is a mixture of proteolytic enzymes extracted from the pineapple plant (Ananas comosus). Proteolytic enzymes are enzymes that break down proteins. Bromelain is classified as a cysteine protease, meaning it uses a cysteine amino acid at its active site to cleave the peptide bonds that hold proteins together, breaking them down into smaller peptides and amino acids. This formula uses stem bromelain specifically (Ananas comosus var. comosus, stem), as listed in the Health Canada NPN 80142901 licence.
Q: Why does this formula use pineapple stem rather than pineapple fruit?
A: The stem of the pineapple plant contains higher concentrations of bromelain than the fruit and is the preferred source for supplement production. The stem is a byproduct of pineapple processing. This formula specifies pineapple stem bromelain (Ananas comosus var. comosus, stem) as the medicinal ingredient in the Health Canada NPN 80142901 licence.
Q: What does 2,400 GDU mean and how does it relate to 18,000,000 FCC papain units?
A: Enzyme supplements are measured in activity units, not just weight. The weight (500mg) tells you how much powder is in the capsule. The activity unit tells you how much enzymatic work that powder can do. GDU (Gelatin Digesting Units) measures how much gelatin the enzyme can digest under standardized conditions and is a common measurement on bromelain supplement labels. FCC papain units is a standardized measurement from the Food Chemicals Codex, an internationally recognized compendium of food ingredient standards. This formula provides 2,400 GDU per gram and 18,000,000 FCC papain units per 500mg capsule. Both measurements refer to the same potency they are two different systems measuring the same enzyme activity. The NPN 80142901 licence uses FCC papain units as the official measurement.
Q: Why does enzyme activity matter more than the weight in milligrams?
A: Two bromelain supplements can both contain 500mg per capsule but have very different potencies depending on their activity units. A bromelain at 2,400 GDU per gram is more potent than one at 1,200 GDU per gram, even though both contain 500mg. The activity unit tells you how much enzymatic work the bromelain can actually do, which is what matters for a digestive enzyme supplement.
Q: Why should I take this product with food?
A: Bromelain is a digestive enzyme. When taken with food, it works on the proteins in the meal being consumed, assisting the body's own digestive enzymes in breaking down dietary proteins. The recommended dose for this formula is 1 capsule, 1 to 2 times per day, taken with food or a meal.
Q: How do I take this product and how long will 60 capsules last?
A: Adults: 1 capsule, 1 to 2 times per day. Take with food. At 1 capsule per day: 60 capsules = 60 day supply (2 months). At 2 capsules per day: 60 capsules = 30 day supply (1 month).
Q: Is this product suitable for vegans or vegetarians?
A: Yes. The capsule shell is made from Hypromellose, a plant-derived material. There are no animal-derived ingredients in this formula. This product is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. It is also non-GMO, gluten free, soy free, and dairy free.
Q: Are there any medications or conditions I should be aware of before taking this product?
A: Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you have a gastrointestinal lesion or ulcer, or if you are taking an anticoagulant, blood thinner, anti-inflammatory, or antibiotic. Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are having surgery. Bromelain has anticoagulant properties and may increase bleeding risk during and after surgery or when combined with blood-thinning medications.
Q: Are there any other cautions I should know about?
A: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a health care practitioner prior to use. Hypersensitivity/allergy has been known to occur; in which case, discontinue use. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea have been known to occur, in which case discontinue use and consult a health care practitioner. Keep out of reach of children. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
