Introduction
Bromelain is a naturally derived complex of proteolytic enzymes, traditionally obtained from pineapple and widely used in nutraceutical formulations targeting digestive wellness, microcirculation, and support for the body’s physiological response processes.
However, the enzymatic nature of Bromelain also represents one of its key formulation challenges. Passage through the gastric environment may affect the integrity and activity of the ingredient, making technologies capable of protecting the active and promoting greater bioaccessibility particularly relevant.
To address these needs, IPS has developed Bromelain MINIACTIVES®, a technological solution designed to provide gastroprotection and enhanced bioaccessibility, while preserving the characteristics of the active ingredient during gastric transit.
Properties and Application Fields of Bromelain
Thanks to its proteolytic activity, Bromelain is used across different nutraceutical areas.
- Digestive wellness
Its enzymatic activity makes it particularly relevant for formulations supporting digestive processes. - Microcirculation
Bromelain is frequently included in supplements designed to support normal microcirculatory function. - Tissue wellness
It is also used in nutraceutical formulations supporting the body’s physiological response processes.
Its broad range of applications makes Bromelain suitable for both stand-alone and multi-ingredient formulations.
Formulation Challenges
Formulating Bromelain requires particular attention because of its enzymatic nature.
One of the main challenges is its passage through the gastric environment. Highly acidic conditions may represent a critical factor for an ingredient whose functionality depends on maintaining its enzymatic characteristics.
From a formulation perspective, it is therefore important to:
- protect the active ingredient during gastric transit;
- modulate release according to gastrointestinal conditions;
- preserve its technological characteristics;
- promote greater bioaccessibility;
- ensure formulation flexibility and industrial processability.
IPS Innovation: Bromelain MINIACTIVES®
Bromelain MINIACTIVES® uses proprietary MINIACTIVES® technology to provide functional protection of the active ingredient.
Gastroprotection helps limit premature exposure of Bromelain to the gastric environment, while the technological system modulates release along the gastrointestinal tract without altering the nature of the active ingredient.
This approach provides two key technological advantages:
- Gastroprotection
Microencapsulation contributes to protecting the ingredient during passage through the gastric environment. - Enhanced bioaccessibility
Protection of the active ingredient combined with release modulation promotes more effective availability of Bromelain under appropriate gastrointestinal conditions.
These advantages are complemented by formulation flexibility, improved technological management, and compatibility with complex nutraceutical formulations.
Scientific Evidence
No direct clinical studies specifically conducted on Bromelain MINIACTIVES® are available.
Clinical validation of the MINIACTIVES® platform is based on studies conducted on Coenzyme Q10 MINIACTIVES® and Citicoline MINIACTIVES®.
Clinical studies on CoQ10 and Citicoline demonstrate the technological benefits, including improved bioaccessibility and release modulation, which are attributable to MINIACTIVES® technology itself. These findings should therefore not be interpreted as direct clinical evidence for Bromelain.
For Bromelain MINIACTIVES®, the technology is specifically applied with the objective of protecting the active ingredient in the gastric environment and enhancing its bioaccessibility.
Formulations & Applications
Bromelain MINIACTIVES® expands formulation opportunities for nutraceutical products dedicated to digestive wellness, microcirculation, and applications where active-ingredient protection is a relevant technological requirement.
It can be incorporated into different dosage forms, including capsules, tablets, sachets, stick packs, and multi-ingredient formulations, providing formulators with greater development flexibility.
For tablet applications, SmarTTabs®, technological innovation by IPS for direct compression, preserving the technological characteristics of the microencapsulated ingredient.
The combination of gastroprotection, bioaccessibility, and formulation flexibility enables the development of advanced products without altering the nature of Bromelain.
Conclusion
The enzymatic nature of Bromelain makes protection during gastric transit a key consideration in the development of advanced nutraceutical formulations.
With Bromelain MINIACTIVES®, IPS applies its microencapsulation technology to combine gastroprotection, enhanced bioaccessibility, and formulation flexibility, providing a solution designed to preserve and enhance the characteristics of the active ingredient.
This approach further reinforces SURACTIVES® as a technology provider, addressing specific formulation challenges through dedicated technological platforms.
Note: This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice.
