Evaluation of: Fibach E, Tan E, Jamuar S, Ng I, Amer J, Rachmilewitz EZ. Amelioration of oxidative stress in red blood cells from patients with β-thalassemia major and intermedia and E-β-thalassemia following administration of a fermented papaya preparation. Phytother. Res. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.3116 (2010) (Epub ahead of print).

This article comments on the results obtained by Fibach et al., which showed reduction of oxidative status in red blood cells of patients with β- and E-β-thalassemia (β-thal) treated with fermented papaya preparation. The study was a three-center, prospective study, including eight patients with β-thal intermedia, four β-thal major and seven E-β-thal patients. The patients received 3 g of fermented papaya preparation (FPP) two- to three-times a day after meals, respectively, for 3 months. A marked decrease in reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation and phosphatidylserine externalization and an increase in GSH were detected in both groups of patients, indicating that FPP is efficient in reducing the oxidative stress of these red blood cells. The results are very encouraging as all parameters analyzed indicated the reduction of red blood cells oxidative stress by the action of a natural and inexpensive product.