Review Immun'Age packets of 3 g

What is it for (from the https://www.immunage.us/)

Ingredients

Fermented Papaya preparation FFP^®  

Supplements and medicines are examined and evaluated solely from the point of view of their chemical composition, based on the relevant scientific studies. No medical opinion is expressed on curative functions. If a medicinal or prescription substance is involved, the overall judgement must be made by the treating physician.

We usually examine the most significant ingredients in order of quantity as listed on the label, in this case there is only one ingredient. I provide a brief summary of it due to space requirements. For the full text, studies, and bibliography I highly recommend clicking on the ingredient, and if you want to delve deeper, it is a somewhat complex read perhaps because these are scientific studies, but it clarifies the ingredient/health relationship. In any case, at the bottom of this review you can read the summary of the scientific studies I have cited.

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a fruit intensively cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions that has a long history as a traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases and is used in the food sector as a complement to foods, drinks.

Its composition contains polyphenols and flavonoids that have antibacterial and antioxidant action (1). There is a good content of Vitamin A, C, E, pantothenic acid, magnesium and potassium in the pulp and peel.

Moreover, papaya and strawberry contains a good content of carotenoids in the pulp (2) :

• ß-cryptoxanthin 34.2%
• lycopene 8,31%
• β-carotene 6,26%.

Fermented papaya powder has an antioxidant effect against age-related diseases and neurological diseases and may be useful in combating excessive production of free radicals in patients with Alzheimer's disease (3).

The components of oil extracted from papaya seeds, oleic acid, linoleic acid, saponins, anthocyanins, tocopherol, have demonstrated beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system (4).

And so let's see what it consists of and what the benefits of the FPP® fermentation process are. A 2022 spectrometric analysis of this product found protection of red blood cells from oxidative stress due to the presence of essential amino acids, vitamin D3 and derivative (5). 

Conclusions

All scientific studies agree on the benefits attributed to this supplement. I have not found any contraindications. 

References________________________________________________________________________

(1) Asghar N, Naqvi SA, Hussain Z, Rasool N, Khan ZA, Shahzad SA, Sherazi TA, Janjua MR, Nagra SA, Zia-Ul-Haq M, Jaafar HZ. Compositional difference in antioxidant and antibacterial activity of all parts of the Carica papaya using different solvents. Chem Cent J. 2016 Feb 3;10:5. doi: 10.1186/s13065-016-0149-0. PMID: 26848308; PMCID: PMC4741006.

Abstract. Background: Carica papaya is a well known medicinal plant used in the West and Asian countries to cope several diseases. Patients were advised to eat papaya fruit frequently during dengue fever epidemic in Pakistan by physicians. This study was conducted to establish Polyphenols, flavonoids and antioxidant potential profile of extracts of all major parts of the C. papaya with seven major solvents i.e. water, ethanol, methanol, n-butanol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane....Conclusion: This study was conducted to test the medicinal profile of all parts of C. papaya by extracting secondary metabolites with organic and aqueous solvents. Ethanol and methanol both were found to be the best solvents of choice to extract natural products to get maximum medicinal benefits and could be used to medicinal formulation against different infectious diseases.

(2) Swada JG, Keeley CJ, Ghane MA, Engeseth NJ.  Relationship between pulp structure breakdown and nutritional value of papaya (Carica papaya) and strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) nectars using alternative thermal and non-thermal processing techniques.  
J Sci Food Agric. 2016 May

(3) Barbagallo M, Marotta F, Dominguez LJ. Oxidative stress in patients with Alzheimer's disease: effect of extracts of fermented papaya powder. Mediators Inflamm. 2015;2015:624801. doi: 10.1155/2015/624801. 

Abstract. Brain tissue is particularly susceptible to oxidative stress (OS). Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduced antioxidant systems, and decreased efficiency in repairing mechanisms have been linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Postmortem studies in AD patients' brains have shown oxidative damage markers (i.e., lipid peroxidation, protein oxidative damage, and glycoxidation). Fermented papaya (FPP, a product of Carica papaya Linn fermentation with yeast) is a nutraceutical supplement with favorable effects on immunological, hematological, inflammatory, and OS parameters in chronic/degenerative diseases. We studied 40 patients (age 78.2 ± 1.1 years), 28 AD patients, and 12 controls. Urinary 8-OHdG was measured to assess OS. Twenty AD patients were supplemented with FPP (Immunage, 4.5 grams/day) for 6 months, while controls did not receive any treatment. At baseline, 8-OHdG was significantly higher in patients with AD versus controls (13.7 ± 1.61 ng/mL versus 1.6 ± 0.12 ng/mL, P < 0.01). In AD patients FPP significantly decreased 8-OHdG (14.1 ± 1.7 ng/mL to 8.45 ± 1.1 ng/mL, P < 0.01), with no significant changes in controls. AD is associated with increased OS, and FPP may be helpful to counteract excessive ROS in AD patients.

(4) Logozzi, M., Di Raimo, R., Mizzoni, D., Andreotti, M., Spada, M., Macchia, D., & Fais, S. (2020). Beneficial effects of fermented papaya preparation (FPP®) supplementation on redox balance and aging in a mouse model. Antioxidants, 9(2), 144.

(5) Warang, P. P., Shinde, N. S., Umare, V. D., Deshmukh, P. V., Ghosh, K., Madkaikar, M. R., ... & Mukherjee, M. B. (2022). Role of Oxidative Stress and the Protective Effect of Fermented Papaya Preparation in Sickle Cell Disease. Hemoglobin, 46(4), 260-264.

Abstract. Fermented papaya preparation (FPP) is the source of antioxidants that may help in reducing the complications associated with oxidative stress and may improve the quality of life in sickle cell disease patients. In this study, we assessed the in vitro effect of FPP on sickled red blood cells (RBCs) using oxidative stress markers and observed that FPP has the potential to reduce the oxidative stress. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and eosin 5′ malaemide (E5′M) dye test showed that FPP protects red cell morphology against the oxidative stress. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) analysis of FPP suggests the presence of essential amino acids, vitamin D3, and its derivatives. Fermented papaya preparation can be of benefit either in reducing oxidative stress parameters or in preventing pathophysiological events in the sickle cell disease patients.