No Proteolytics are not Dinosaurs; Bring on the Fruit!

As discussed in the post on berries, fruit’s deliciously sweet taste is not the only reason to include it in your diet.  This post addresses the power of including proteolytics in your anti-cancer diet.  Research is finding proteolytics helpful in the prevention and treatment of cancer.  So what are they?  Proteolytics are enzymes that aid in digestion by breaking down proteins into peptides and amino acids.  They are also essential for many vital processes including cell division, immune function, and blood clotting.  While the human body produces these enzymes in the pancreas and stomach, they are also found in fruits including pineapple, kiwi, and papaya.  

Pineapples contain the protein-digesting enzyme, bromelain.  In recent years, studies have shown that bromelian acts systematically to modulate key metabolic pathways that support malignancy.  Bromelain has a direct impact on cancer cells and their micro-environment, as well as in the modulation of immune, inflammatory and haemostatic (blood vessel) systems.  Over 30 years ago, a study revealed that bromelain blocks the tumor feeding prostaglandin PGE2. The results were replicated and by supressing this inflammatory hormone-like fatty acid, tumor growth and invasion, pain, and angiogenesis resulting in increased immune function.  In 2001, Norwegian neurooncologists introduced research demonstrating that bromelian reduces glioma migration, adhesion, and invasion into healthy tissue.  Bromelian can also protect healthy brain tissue from radiation by decreasing levels of TGF-beta, a cytokine party responsible for necrosis and immune system suppression.  It was also found to reduce radiation side-effects including skin irritation, mouth sores, swallowing issues, nausea, vomiting and associated weight loss, stomach pain, fatigue, headache, depression, and mental function.  Increasing quality of life for anyone experiencing cancer treatment is so helpful for the patient and caregivers.  Bromelain can do that.

Various studies have found bromelian to be anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-thrombotic, anti-fibrinolytic, and to facilitate the death of apoptotic cells.  Plus, pineapple contains all sorts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants but is particularly high in vitamin C, and manganese, which are helpful to include in an anti-cancer diet.  There are so many incredibly beneficial qualities of pineapple to your diet today and not just as a garnish on your favorite tropical cocktail.

Kiwi fruit contains the proteolytic enzyme actinidin and shares some of these same immune boosting benefits.  Eating kiwifruit has prebiotic effects which increase beneficial gut microbiota and, in turn, lowers inflammation.  A recent study found a dramatic increase in the beneficial gut bacteria Lactobacillus within 24 hours and Bifodobacteria within 4 days of eating kiwi.  Both of these bacterial strains produce SCFAs(short-chain fatty acids) which maintain the health of the gut lining decreasing the likelihood of leaky gut, while also improving glucose and lipid metabolism.  Kiwi is also high in vitamins C and E, antioxidants, fiber, and folate.  Eating kiwi contributes to a healthier gut leads represents a healthier immune system necessary to combat all forms of infection.

Finally, there’s the papaya.  Papaya leaf extract is being studied with regards to its anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects on breast cancer cell lines.  Researchers are continuing to study this plant and discover the role phtyochemicals and potential for therapeutic exploitation may exist.  In the meantime, the proteolytic enzyme in papaya, papain, helps aid protein digestion.  Papaya has a soothing effect on the digestive system and can relieve constipation and upset-stomach, two common side-effects of anti-cancer therapeutic agents.  Papaya is also high in vitamin C, beta-carotene, lycopene, calcium, potassium, and iron which contribute to its anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties.  So while the researchers are examining papaya’s anti-cancer properties, this proteolytic can still be utilized for a number of nutritional benefits as well as symptom relief.

Research continues to grow in support of fruit in the anti-cancer diet.  Pineapple, kiwi, and papaya are natural, whole food sources of proteolytics that aid in protein synthesis and contribute to a healthy microbiome and stronger immune system.  These three fruits demonstrate anti-inflammatory benefits and the research on bromelian in pineapple as a therapeutic agent against gliomas as well as limiting the effects of radiation on healthy tissues is significant.  It’s easy to imagine the research continuing to grow in support of incorporating these proteolytics into a cancer prevention and treatment diet.  Continue to enjoy the fruit!  Next up…Mango!

Written in collaborative partnership with Patrice Surley, MH, NC www.patricesurley.com/

Sources:

 Chobotova K, Vernallis AB, Majid FA. Bromelain's activity and potential as an anti-cancer agent: Current evidence and perspectives. Cancer Lett. 2010 Apr 28;290(2):148-56. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2009.08.001. Epub 2009 Aug 22. PMID: 19700238.

 Varilla C, Marcone M, Paiva L, Baptista J. Bromelain, a Group of Pineapple Proteolytic Complex Enzymes (Ananas comosus) and Their Possible Therapeutic and Clinical Effects. A Summary. Foods. 2021 Sep 23;10(10):2249. doi: 10.3390/foods10102249. PMID: 34681298; PMCID: PMC8534447.

 V L M, Ramakrishnan E, Sankaran M. Carica papaya in Cancer Prevention: An Overview. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2021;21(20):3097-3112. doi: 10.2174/1389557520666200811102622. PMID: 32781958.

 Y.K. Lee et al., “Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) Changes Intestinal Microbial Profile.” Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease 23 (2012).

 Zuhrotun Nisa F, Astuti M, Murdiati A, Mubarika Haryana S. Anti-proliferation and Apoptosis Induction of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Carica papaya L. on Human Breast Cancer Cells MCF-7. Pak J Biol Sci. 2017;20(1):36-41. doi: 10.3923/pjbs.2017.36.41. PMID: 29023013.