Table 2.

Summary of studies assessing the effectiveness of bromelain as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the shoulder (periarthritis humero scapularis)

Authors	Study design	n	Dosage	Condition	Treatment period	Follow up	Adverse events	Primary outcome	Conclusion
Klein et al. (33) Unpublished	DB, placebo controlled RCT	60	PHL 3 × 2 tabs/day (540 mg/day bromelain) versus placebo	Peri arthritis humero scapularis	3 weeks	N/A	No SAE reported. Three ADR (1 PHL)	Sum score of various pain (active, pressure, rest, night) and dysfunction (four point category scale) measures	No significant group difference in primary outcome after 3 weeks treatment. n = 4 drop outs (2 PHL)
Klein et al. (31)	Comparative DB, RCT	40	PHL 3 × 2 tabs/day (540 mg/day bromelain) DF (100 mg/day)	Peri arthritis humero scapularis tendopathica	3 weeks	N/A	No SAE reported. Three ADR (2 PHL)	Sum score of various pain (active, pressure, rest, night) and dysfunction (four point category scale) measures	No significant group difference at outcome after 3 weeks treatment (P = 0.14). n = 5 drop outs (3 PHL)

PHL, Phlogenzym; DF, diclofenac; DB, double blind; RCT, randomised controlled trial; SAE, serious adverse event; ADR, adverse drug reaction; N/A, not applicable.

Phlogenzym^TM each tablet contains proteolytic enzymes in the following doses: bromelain (90 mg), trypsin (48 mg), rutin (100 mg).