Papaya enzyme, which goes by the chemical name papain, is sometimes used as a dietary supplement. You can also find combinations of papaya enzyme and urea, which are used topically to help remove dead tissue from the skin. It's not known whether papaya enzyme is safe during nursing.
Nursing
If you're nursing a baby, you need to be careful about what you put in your body. Some medications and components of food can be toxic to a baby, and some of these compounds can pass to your infant through your breast milk. While there's less of a concern about what you put on your skin, since the skin is a natural barrier that helps protect you from many chemicals, some chemicals can be absorbed into your bloodstream.
Papaya Enzyme
Papaya enzyme, or papain, has traditionally been used as a meat tenderizer, because it helps to break down protein fibers in your food. Some sources advocate using it as a dietary supplement, on the grounds that it could help you break down the nutrient compounds in your food. Unfortunately, there's no scientific evidence to suggest that you digest food any better if you take papaya enzyme, nor is there evidence that is has any other benefits for nursing women.
Papain and Urea
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, you can also find topical preparations of papain mixed with urea, which is a slightly caustic chemical. These help to break down dead skin tissue, and are sometimes used on burns and bedsores. According to Drugs.com, it's not known whether applying papain and urea topically could have any negative health consequences for a lactating woman or her baby, so you should avoid using papain and urea combinations while your child is being breastfed.
General Guidelines
Papaya enzyme as a dietary supplement hasn't been studied adequately to ensure safety in lactating women. Per the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, manufacturers of dietary supplements don't have to prove that they're safe or effective prior to marketing them. You should talk to your doctor if you're interested in taking papaya enzyme internally, but because there are no proven health benefits and because the risks aren't known, you may wish to avoid papaya enzyme in any purified form while you're nursing.
Member Comments