Pineapple: Nutrients, What Research Shows and Safety
Pineapple nutrition from USDA data, what research says about the fruit and about bromelain, and plain safety notes on allergy, medicines and food safety.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical fruit of the bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae). The sweet, juicy flesh is eaten fresh, canned, frozen, dried or as juice. People eat it for its vitamin C and manganese and because the plant contains bromelain, an enzyme mix studied as a supplement. This page keeps the fruit, the juice and the bromelain supplement apart, and does not use hype words.
Read this first
- Pineapple is an everyday food. Allergic reactions are possible, as with any food. For trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat, call 911. See food allergy basics and emergency signs. [7]
- Eating pineapple supplies vitamin C, which prevents scurvy when a diet has too little of it. [1][2] That is a nutrition fact, not proof that pineapple treats any disease.
- Most claims about "bromelain" come from lab and animal studies, or from trials of bromelain pills (often mixed with other ingredients), not from eating fresh fruit. [3][4]
- We did not find a source we could read that describes medicine interactions with pineapple as a food. A pharmacist can check your own medicines.
What is in it (USDA values)
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per 1 cup, chunks (165 g) | % Daily Value per cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | 50 kcal | 83 kcal | not set |
| Fiber | 1.4 g | 2.3 g | 8% |
| Total sugars | 9.85 g | 16.3 g | not set |
| Vitamin C | 47.8 mg | 78.9 mg | 88% |
| Manganese | 0.93 mg | 1.53 mg | 67% |
| Copper | 0.11 mg | 0.18 mg | 20% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.11 mg | 0.18 mg | 11% |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.08 mg | 0.13 mg | 11% |
| Folate (DFE) | 18 µg | 29.7 µg | 7% |
| Potassium | 109 mg | 180 mg | 4% |
| Vitamin K | 0.7 µg | 1.2 µg | 1% |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 3 µg | 5 µg | 1% |
Source: USDA FoodData Central item 169124, "Pineapple, raw, all varieties" (SR Legacy). [1] The serving is the USDA household portion of 1 cup of chunks, 165 g. Per-serving numbers are our arithmetic from the per-100 g values. % Daily Value uses the FDA 2016 Daily Values; values vary with variety, ripeness and storage.
The fruit contains the enzyme mix bromelain. Reviews describe antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of bromelain, but say most of the evidence comes from cell and animal studies, with limited clinical data. [3] USDA lists very little beta-carotene (35 µg per 100 g) and no lycopene or lutein. [1]
What research says
| Health goal | What the sources found | Strength of evidence | What was studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preventing scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) | Vitamin C is needed for healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and wound healing; too little causes scurvy. [2] Pineapple is a source (USDA). [1] | Established (for vitamin C in general) | Vitamin C from any diet; not a pineapple-specific trial |
| Knee osteoarthritis pain | An 8-week crossover trial of 45 people with a bromelain, trypsin and rutoside combination reported better pain and symptom scores, but it was exploratory and not corrected for multiple comparisons. [4] | Promising but limited | A pill combination, not fruit |
| Bruising and swelling after facial surgery | A systematic review (10 studies, 696 people) judged the evidence for bromelain limited: only two studies tested it. [5] | Insufficient evidence | Bromelain products after surgery |
| Short-term pain after orthodontic braces | One triple-blind trial of 135 people found bromelain 200 mg gave lower pain than ibuprofen 400 mg at 2 and 6 hours, with no difference in most measures at 48 hours. [6] | Promising but limited (one trial) | Bromelain tablets |
| Cancer, heart, metabolic and brain conditions | A 2026 critical review says most findings are from lab and animal studies, with limited clinical data. [3] | Lab or animal only | Isolated bromelain in cells and animals |
| Everyday eating of the fruit and disease risk | We did not find a pineapple-specific trial or review in the sources we read: Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. | Insufficient evidence | n/a |
Eaten as food vs taken as a supplement or extract. The trials above used bromelain products, often in doses and combinations you cannot get from a slice of fruit. A result for a tablet does not carry over to fruit, and the lack of trials on fruit does not mean the fruit is harmful. Observational studies of fruit eating overall are not proof for one fruit.
How much is a normal serving
USDA lists these household portions for raw pineapple: 1 cup of chunks (165 g); 1 slice about 4-2/3 inches across and 3/4 inch thick (166 g); 1 smaller slice (84 g); 1 whole fruit (905 g). [1] This is information, not a prescription. We could not read the official MyPlate daily fruit figure for this page, so we do not quote one. For juice, dried or canned pineapple, Proper evidence not found in the sources we read on how processing changes the nutrients; check labels for added sugar. See fruit juice vs whole fruit.Safety, allergy and medicines
- Allergy: In a Taiwanese database study of fruit-specific IgE tests, pineapple had the highest rate of positive results among the fruits tested, higher in children than adults. A positive blood test shows sensitisation, not always a reaction. [7] Swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing needs 911.
- Bromelain allergy and cross-reactions: the sources we read did not describe a latex-fruit link for pineapple, so we make no claim either way.
- Medicines: we did not find a readable source on interactions between eating pineapple and medicines, and none on bromelain tablets with blood thinners or antibiotics. Anyone planning bromelain supplements should ask a pharmacist, especially before surgery. See supplements and blood thinners.
- Bromelain in the lab: a 2026 cell study reported cell damage markers at higher bromelain concentrations in the test tube. This does not show harm from eating the fruit. [8]
- Sugar: a cup has about 16 g of natural sugar (USDA). [1] People managing blood sugar may want to ask their care team about portions; see foods for blood sugar control.
- Pregnancy: we did not find a readable source on pineapple in pregnancy; see foods in pregnancy.
Choosing, storing and food safety
- Choose produce that is not bruised or damaged; buy pre-cut pineapple only if it is refrigerated or on ice. [9]
- Keep cut pineapple in a clean refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. [9]
- Wash hands first, rinse the whole fruit under running water without soap, and dry it before cutting, even though you do not eat the skin. [9]
Related pages
Health connections for Pineapple
What research links to eating or drinking this food, and how strong the evidence is. Many studies are observational or use juice, powder, oil or extracts rather than the food as eaten; each card says which.
Vitamin C intake and scurvy prevention
Deficiency linkPineapple supplies vitamin C (about 88% of the Daily Value in a cup of chunks). Vitamin C prevents scurvy when a diet has too little.
Supplements: Relevant to food intake; not proof that pineapple treats other diseases.
Manganese and copper content
Established roleA cup of chunks gives about 67% (manganese) and 20% (copper) of the FDA Daily Value per USDA.
Supplements: Nutrient facts only; not evidence of treating a condition.
Fiber and natural sugars
Established roleA cup has about 2.3 g of fiber and about 16 g of natural sugars.
Supplements: Not a prescription; context for people managing blood sugar.
Bromelain and joint pain (knee osteoarthritis)
Preliminary or mixedOne exploratory 8-week trial of a bromelain, trypsin and rutoside pill combination reported better pain and symptom scores.
Supplements: Promising but limited; fruit not tested.
Bromelain after surgery and dental pain
Preliminary or mixedA systematic review found limited evidence for bromelain on bruising after facial surgery; one trial found short-term pain relief similar to or better than ibuprofen in the first hours after orthodontic separators.
Supplements: Evidence is limited; fruit not tested.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory claims for bromelain
Lab or animal research onlyReviews describe antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of bromelain, mostly in cells and animals, with limited clinical data.
Supplements: No good human evidence for the fruit.
Cancer, heart, metabolic and brain conditions
Lab or animal research onlyPossible benefits of bromelain are suggested, but evidence is from lab and animal studies.
Supplements: Lab or animal only.
Medicines and bromelain: gap in the evidence
Not enough evidenceThe sources we read did not describe medicine interactions with eating pineapple or with bromelain tablets; a pharmacist can check individual medicines.
Supplements: Unknown.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (1)
- Joint SupportPreliminary or mixed
Based on bromelain pill-combination trial in knee osteoarthritis; limited and not about the fruit.
Body systems (1)
- Integumentary SystemEstablished role
Vitamin C supports skin and wound healing (NHS); pineapple is one source.
Body parts (2)
- JointsPreliminary or mixed
One exploratory trial of a bromelain-containing pill combination reported better knee pain scores; fruit was not tested.
- SkinEstablished role
NHS says vitamin C supports skin, blood vessels, bones and wound healing; pineapple supplies vitamin C but was not tested for skin outcomes.
Functional actions (2)
- Anti-InflammatoryLab or animal research only
Anti-inflammatory effects of bromelain are described mainly in cells and animals; limited human data, mostly with pills.
- AntioxidantLab or animal research only
Bromelain shows antioxidant effects in lab and animal studies; clinical data are limited.
Root causes (1)
- Nutrient DeficiencyDeficiency link
Pineapple is a source of vitamin C, and too little vitamin C causes scurvy. This is a nutrition role of the food, not a treatment claim.
Conditions & symptoms (2)
- Food AllergyDocumented risk
Pineapple showed the highest positive specific IgE rate among fruits in one study; allergy is possible.
- ScurvyDeficiency link
Scurvy comes from too little vitamin C; pineapple is one dietary source of it.
Documented risks and interactions (3)
- Pineapple allergy. Pineapple had the highest rate of positive specific IgE tests among fruits in one database study of children and adults. For swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing, call 911.
- Lab findings on bromelain at high concentrations. A 2026 cell study reported cell-damage markers at higher bromelain concentrations in the test tube; this does not show harm from eating the fruit.
- Food safety for cut fruit. Keep cut pineapple refrigerated at 40 F or below, rinse whole produce without soap and avoid bruised fruit.
Frequently asked questions
Does pineapple have a lot of vitamin C?
USDA lists 47.8 mg per 100 g, which is about 88% of the FDA Daily Value in a cup of chunks. [1] Vitamin C helps prevent scurvy. [2]
Does bromelain in pineapple reduce inflammation?
Reviews describe anti-inflammatory effects mostly in cells and animals, with limited clinical data. [3] A pill combination helped some knee osteoarthritis symptoms in one exploratory trial. [4] Fresh fruit was not tested.
Is pineapple high in sugar?
A cup of chunks has about 16 g of natural sugars and 2.3 g of fiber (USDA). [1]
Can pineapple cause an allergic reaction?
Yes, it can. Pineapple had the highest positive rate in one fruit IgE database study. [7] For swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing, call 911.
Is canned or frozen pineapple as good as fresh?
We did not find a source we could read that compares them. Check labels for added sugar or syrup.
References
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central: Pineapple, raw, all varieties (FDC 169124). SR Legacy, April 2018 release. Read 2026-10-23.
- NHS. Vitamin C. Read 2026-10-23.
- Sanlier N et al. Potential health benefits of bromelain: a critical review of the current literature. Front Nutr 2026. PMID 42245557. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- Henrotin Y et al. Oral enzyme combination therapy reduces systemic inflammation, urinary CTXII and pain in knee osteoarthritis. RMD Open 2025. PMID 40803821. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- Manouchehri K et al. Effectiveness of Arnica and Bromelain for improving ecchymosis following facial plastic surgery: a systematic review. Plast Surg (Oakv) 2026. PMID 42539591. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- Ajami S et al. Analgesic efficacy of bromelain and bromelain plus turmeric for pain control after orthodontic separator placement. Clin Exp Dent Res 2025. PMID 40260785. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- Chang LS et al. Allergen tests of fruit sensitization involving children with allergic diseases. Children (Basel) 2022. PMID 35455514. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- Bernasinska-Slomczewska J et al. Assessment of the cytotoxic, proapoptotic, and genotoxic effects of bromelain on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Sci Rep 2026. PMID 42045533. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Selecting and Serving Produce Safely. Read 2026-10-23.