Papain is a natural substance in the papaya fruit. Like the other hydrolytic proteolytic enzymes (bromelain, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and pancreatin) Papain can degrade the protein molecules in an aqueous medium at a defined pH.
Papain uses water molecules (hydrolytic property) to break the amino acid chains of the proteins (proteolytic property).
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What Is Papain
The chemical analysis shows that papain is a three-dimensional protein with a polypeptide chain of 212 amino acids.
Pharmacologically Papain is a proteolytic hydrolytic enzyme.
What Do We Need to Know About Papain
Papain is a natural substance in the papaya fruit.
Like the other hydrolytic proteolytic enzymes (bromelain, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and pancreatin) Papain can degrade the protein molecules in an aqueous medium at a defined pH.
It uses water molecules (hydrolytic property) to break the amino acid chains of the proteins (proteolytic property).
What Is Papain Used For
Proven benefits:
- aids the digestion as a process;
- support the elimination of the symptoms of indigestion (gas, diarrhea, stomach heaviness, etc.).
It is not difficult to guess that the intake of papain will ease the work of our digestion as enzyme-producing cells in the pancreas have their limit.
This applies twice as strongly to athletes who consume two to three times more proteins in their diets compared to people who do not practice sports. If you get gas and bloating after another high protein meal, there is little sense of counting the consumed daily proteins.
You don’t digest and consequently do not absorb everything eaten, the symptoms show that. The solution is more frequently consumed smaller portions and enzymes supplements.
Possible Side Effects
It is believed that the hydrolytic enzymes are safe for healthy people. Despite that person with untreated gastritis and stomach and duodenum ulcers should not take enzymes without consultation with a gastroenterologist.
The same applies to people who feel burning after the administration of proteolytic enzymes. This is a sign that the protective layer is damaged and the enzymes break down the supporting tissue.
The use of proteolytic enzymes by people with gastritis and ulcers can seriously damage their digestive system. It is suspected that by crossing the blood the enzymes "dilute" it by breaking down the suspended supporting, anti-inflammatory, and clotting proteins.
For this reason, many physicians and pharmacologists do not recommend the combining of enzymes with vasodilators. The intake of enzymes by people with problematic blood clotting (hemophilia) is not recommended.
Taking proteolytic enzymes by pregnant and lactating women should be prescribed by a doctor and not self-initiated.
What Are the Optimal Doses
The different formulas have different concentrations of active enzymes, and besides that, the effective dose of papain depends on the ingested amount of proteins.
It is best to follow the instructions on the labels of the products you buy.
How to Take Papain
Only with food during meals.
Papain is especially needed in periods of increasing muscle weight when food is extremely saturated with proteins.
In Which Sports and Health Supplements Can We Find Papain
As a basic acting substance, it can be found in digestive enzymes complexes or as a standalone product.
It is rarely included in protein isolates. It could be more frequently seen in concentrates.
