Serramend by Health Concerns

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Asthma. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for asthma, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Atherosclerosis. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for atherosclerosis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Back pain. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for back pain, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Bronchiectasis. It is unclear if oral serrapeptase is beneficial in patients with bronchiectasis. Details: A small clinical study in patients with bronchiectasis shows that taking serrapeptase 30 mg orally daily for 4 weeks significantly reduces frequency of cough and also seems to decrease sputum viscosity and neutrophil counts in sputum samples when compared with no treatment (13153).
• Cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for CVD, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for carpal tunnel syndrome, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Chronic bronchitis. It is unclear if oral serrapeptase is beneficial in patients with chronic bronchitis. Details: A small clinical study in patients with chronic bronchitis shows that taking serrapeptase 30 mg orally daily for 4 weeks significantly reduces frequency of cough and expectoration and also seems to decrease sputum viscosity and neutrophil counts in sputum samples when compared with no treatment (13153).
• Diabetes. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for diabetes, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Fibromyalgia. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for fibromyalgia, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Fibrocystic breast disease. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for fibrocystic breast disease, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for IBD, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Laryngitis. It is unclear if oral serrapeptase is beneficial in patients with laryngitis. Details: A clinical study in patients with acute or chronic ear, nose, or throat disorders, including laryngitis, shows that taking serrapeptase 10 mg orally three times daily reduces pain, secretions, difficulty swallowing, and body temperature after 3-4 days of treatment when compared with placebo (13152).
• Migraine headache. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for migraine headache, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Osteoarthritis. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for osteoarthritis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Osteoporosis. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for osteoporosis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Otitis media. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for otitis media, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Pharyngitis. It is unclear if oral serrapeptase is beneficial in patients with pharyngitis. Details: A clinical study in patients with acute or chronic ear, nose, or throat disorders, including pharyngitis, shows that taking serrapeptase 10 mg orally three times daily reduces pain, secretions, difficulty swallowing, and body temperature after 3-4 days of treatment when compared with placebo (13152).
• Postoperative swelling. It is unclear if oral serrapeptase is beneficial in patients with postoperative swelling. Details: Serrapeptase has been evaluated for reducing facial swelling after a variety of procedures. A clinical study in patients undergoing maxillary antrostomy for empyema shows that taking serrapeptase 10 mg orally three times on the day before surgery, once in the evening after surgery, and three times daily for 5 days after surgery modestly reduces buccal swelling when compared with placebo (13151). In patients requiring removal of impacted mandibular third molars, a small clinical study in healthy adults shows that taking serrapeptase 10 mg orally three times daily for 5 days improves postoperative trismus and swelling, but not pain scores, by the fourth postoperative day when compared with placebo (106013). The validity of these findings in limited by a lack of consistent comparison to baseline in both groups. Conversely, two other small studies in patients requiring removal of impacted mandibular third molars show that serrapeptase is less effective than dexamethasone or another proteolytic enzyme, consisting of trypsin, bromelain, and the flavonoid rutin, for improving swelling or facilitating wound healing (106011,106012). The validity of these findings is limited due to poor study methodologies.
• Rhinosinusitis. It is unclear if oral serrapeptase is beneficial in patients with rhinosinusitis. Details: A clinical study in patients with acute or chronic ear, nose, or throat disorders, including rhinosinusitis, shows that taking serrapeptase 10 mg orally three times daily reduces pain, nasal secretions, nasal obstruction, and anosmia after 3-4 days of treatment when compared with placebo (13152).
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for RA, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Tension headache. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for tension headache, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Venous leg ulcers. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for venous leg ulcers, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose. More evidence is needed to rate serrapeptase for these uses.

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POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately, short-term. Serrapeptase seems to be safe when used in clinical trials lasting up to 4 weeks (13151,13152,13153). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of serrapeptase when used long-term.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

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ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, taking serrapeptase with drugs that have antiplatelet or anticoagulant effects might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.  Details In vitro research shows that serrapeptase has fibrinolytic activity (13151,13152).

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General ...Orally, serrapeptase seems to be well-tolerated.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Epigastric pain, gastrointestinal upset, nausea.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Orally: Bullous pemphigoid

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, some patients have reported experiencing epigastric pain, gastrointestinal upset, and nausea; however, these side effects appear to occur at the same rate as placebo (13152).

Immunologic ...There is a case report of bullous pemphigoid, an autoimmune subepidermal dermatosis, in an elderly man who took serrapeptase (13154).

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