Research published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (2007 Aug; 21(3):661–667) examined the effects of protease enzyme supplementation on muscle damage following exercise. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 20 male participants were assessed for muscle strength, perceived pain (using subjective questionnaires), and biochemical markers of muscle damage, including creatine kinase activity and myoglobin concentration. Participants received either a protease enzyme supplement or a placebo. Supplementation was associated with reduced strength loss immediately after exercise compared with placebo.
Additional evidence comes from a study published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology (January–February; 24(1):25–30), which compared enzyme supplementation with NSAID therapy in patients with hip osteoarthritis. This six-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 90 participants and found that enzyme supplementation was comparable to NSAID use in reducing pain and joint stiffness and in improving overall joint function.
