Your Bromelain tablets are labeled as having a potency of 2000 gdu/gram, yet I see that the Bromelain in your Plant Enzyme Complex is labeled as FCC (PU) units. What is the difference and is there a conversion between the two?
The measurement of enzymatic activity is very complex. Bromelain can be standardized using different activity-measuring units, including Milk Clot Units (MCU/mg), Casein Digestion Units (CDU/mg), Bromelain Tyrosine Units (BTU/gram), Rorer units, FCC Papain units (PU), and more.
In an assay one FCC Papain Unit (PU), for example, is defined as that quantity of enzyme that liberates the equivalent of 1 µg (or mcg - microgram) of tyrosine per hour under the conditions of the assay. This procedure is also used to determine the proteolytic (protein-digesting) activity of ficin and bromelain. The assay is based on a 60-min proteolytic hydrolysis of a casein substrate at pH 6.0 and 40° C. Soluble casein is then measured spectrophotometrically at 280 nm (nanometers).
Different activity-measuring methods can use different protein substrates as well as methods. Since enzymes are specific to peptide bonds, as well as which terminal end of an amino acid it will cleave, there typically will not be a conversion between measures unless both measures are performed. This is why conversion among different enzyme measures can be so difficult.
In the case of the single ingredient formula, Bromelain at 2000 GDU/g (gelatin-digesting units/gram) would be equal to a 30,000,000 FCC PU/g potency.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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