Serrapeptase

A proteolytic enzyme produced by Serratia spp. It consists of a chain of 470 amino acids of an average molecular weight of 50,600 daltons (Nakahama 1986).

It is administered orally to treat inflammation, edema, pain and, as a dietary supplement, to prevent cardiovascular disease.

There is no scientific evidence of its efficacy as an analgesic or as a health supplement and there is no data on its long-term safety (Bhagat 2013).

Due to its protein nature it would be digested and inactivated in the gastrointestinal tract, not being absorbed as such but in the form of loose amino acids, which is why its oral bioavailability is practically zero.

Since the last update we have not found any published data on its excretion in breast milk.

Its pharmacokinetic data (very high molecular weight and poor oral bioavailability) make it very unlikely that significant quantities will pass into breast milk.

It has been administered orally to treat breast engorgement or inflammation due to milk stasis (Kee 1989), but evidence for its effectiveness is insufficient and comes only from a study by Kee dating from 1989 which had poor results and came from few patients (Mangesi 2016, ABM 2016 y 2009).

Alternatives

• Ibuprofen (Very Low Risk)