Papaya juice: papaya carotenoids absorb well, the juice has little vitamin C

A meta-analysis of 15 randomized trials found that adding ascorbate rich fruits to meals raised serum ferritin by 9.39 micrograms per liter and hemoglobin by 1.34 g per liter, both at moderate certainty. Papaya juice is a poor match for that finding. The US survey food table lists 100 percent papaya juice at only 3 mg of vitamin C per 3.5 oz (100 g), from a single record with no second table to check it against. The same record gives 57 calories and 13.9 g of sugars per 3.5 oz (100 g), about 34.5 g of sugar in its 248 g default amount. Where papaya stands out is carotenoids. In a crossover trial in 16 healthy adults in Costa Rica, beta-carotene from raw papaya was about 3 times more bioavailable than from carrots or tomatoes, and lycopene 2.6 times more than from tomatoes. That was whole fruit. The only trial we have that served papaya as juice used 7 volunteers over single days, and juice and fresh fruit both beat dried slices.

As people eat it, per 3.5 oz (100 g)

How much is actually in it

• The US survey food table lists 100 percent papaya juice at 57 calories, 13.9 g of sugars and only 3 mg of vitamin C per 3.5 oz (100 g), so a 248 g glass carries about 141 calories and 34.5 g of sugar. — USDA FNDDS survey food Papaya juice, 100% (WWEIA Other fruit juice) (n = 1 record) Evidence E source
  Per 100 g: 57 calories, total sugars 13.91 g, vitamin C 3 mg; 248 g default amount: 141 calories, 34.5 g sugars, 7.4 mg vitamin C

What your body absorbs

• In 7 Cameroonian volunteers fed papaya at breakfast as juice, fresh slices or dried slices, juice and fresh fruit gave higher carotenoid bioavailability than dried fruit, and all three raised serum retinol within 8 hours. — 7 healthy volunteers aged about 25, one day per form, blood drawn fasting and at 4 and 8 hours (n = 7) Evidence C source
  Juice and fresh papaya had the higher bioavailability, all forms raised serum retinol
• In 16 healthy adults, beta-carotene from raw papaya was about 3 times more bioavailable than from carrots or tomatoes, and lycopene 2.6 times more than from tomatoes. — 16 healthy non-smoking adults aged 21 to 44 in Costa Rica, randomized crossover, test meals of 400 to 506 g papaya (n = 16) Evidence B source
  Beta-carotene about 3x carrot and tomato, lycopene 2.6x tomato, beta-cryptoxanthin 2.9x papaya beta-carotene
• In Zimbabwean breastfeeding women, 23 oz (650 g) of pureed papaya a day for 60 days raised serum retinol and improved the vitamin A dose response test, matching a 6 mg beta-carotene capsule. — lactating women with 2 to 12 month old infants, Zimbabwe, randomized to beta-carotene, papaya, carrot or placebo for 60 days, all with 10 g vegetable oil Evidence B source
  Serum retinol rose in papaya group (P < 0.001), relative dose response fell (P < 0.05), hemoglobin rise larger than placebo
• Across 15 randomized trials, including ascorbate rich fruits in meals raised serum ferritin by 9.39 micrograms per liter and hemoglobin by 1.34 g per liter, at moderate certainty. — 15 RCTs with 1381 females aged 15 to 74 and children (n = 1381) Evidence A source
  Serum ferritin +9.39 micrograms/L (7 trials), hemoglobin +1.34 g/L (12 trials), moderate certainty; iron absorption +3.36 percent, P = 0.07

What it does to your health

• A review of systematic reviews found tooth decay in children and small weight gain as the only consistent harms of 100 percent fruit juice, with no conclusive evidence of other adverse effects. — systematic reviews and meta-analyses of 100 percent fruit juice and cardiometabolic, liver and dental outcomes in children and adults Evidence C source
  Higher caries risk in children, small weight gain in young children and adults
• In 60 patients with mild chronic gastritis, 20 g twice a day of a papaya and oat preparation for 30 days cut pain more than placebo, though both groups improved. — 60 patients with endoscopically confirmed mild chronic gastritis, randomized double-blind, 30 days (n = 60) Evidence B source
  Larger pain load reduction with the papaya-oat product, p = 0.048, strong placebo response

Safety, limits and interactions

• Pooling 51 studies, grapefruit juice cut blood levels of the blood pressure drugs aliskiren and celiprolol by about 80 to 90 percent, and apple and orange juice had comparable effects on some drugs. Papaya juice was not among the juices tested. — 51 mostly open-label crossover pharmacokinetic studies in humans, searched to June 2024 (n = 51 studies) Evidence A source
  AUC and Cmax of aliskiren and celiprolol down about 80 to 90 percent with grapefruit juice
• Among 500 allergy clinic patients, papain sensitivity confirmed by blinded oral challenge occurred in 1.05 percent of those with seasonal allergies, with symptoms from palate itching to cramps and diarrhea. — 500 allergy clinic patients skin-tested with papain, 5 positives given double-blind papain or placebo challenges (n = 500) Evidence C source
  5 of 475 allergic patients papain positive, all 5 reacted on blinded challenge, 1.05 percent

What people believe that the data does not support

• Evidence that papaya juice helps dengue concerns juice pressed from papaya leaves, studied mostly in animals and 10 small clinical studies, and does not apply to papaya fruit juice. — 28 articles on Carica papaya leaf juice in dengue: 13 in vivo, 10 clinical, 3 in vitro, 1 ex vivo, 3 ethnobotanical (n = 28 articles) Evidence C source
  Leaf juice reported anti-thrombocytopenic and immunomodulatory effects
• The EU refused a health claim that papaya supports pancreas activity and breaks down protein. — EU Register on nutrition and health claims Evidence E source
  Claim non-authorized, 0 of 4 papaya claims authorized

Who this works differently for

• Among 250 warfarin users with atrial fibrillation in Hong Kong, 55.2 percent of herb-food eaters ate papaya, and people eating such foods at least 4 times a week spent less time in the target INR range. — 250 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation on warfarin for at least 6 months, mean age 69 (n = 250) Evidence C source
  INR in range 58.1 percent in infrequent users vs 51.1 percent in frequent users, P = 0.046
• In 11 Mexican patients with latex allergy and a history of papaya-induced anaphylaxis, the authors warn that hypersensitivity to papaya raises anaphylaxis risk in people allergic to latex. — 11 patients aged 7 to 46 with latex allergy by skin prick test and clinical papaya-induced anaphylaxis (n = 11) Evidence C source
  All 11 had a history of papaya-induced anaphylaxis, 63.3 percent had anaphylaxis during skin prick testing
• The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that the high sugar in fruit juice adds calories and dental caries risk for children, and that juice lacks the protein and fiber of whole fruit. — infants, children and adolescents Evidence E source
  Juice sugar linked to extra calories and caries risk

The bottom line

Three popular claims do not carry over to the fruit juice. The dengue research is about juice pressed from papaya leaves, mostly in animals plus 10 clinical studies, in a scoping review that pooled no estimate. The EU refused the claim that papaya supports the pancreas and breaks down protein, meaning the evidence did not satisfy EFSA. And the stomach result came from a commercial papaya and oat product: in 60 people with mild gastritis, 20 g twice a day for 30 days cut pain more than placebo (p = 0.048), while both groups improved. For vitamin A the strongest papaya result used puree. In breastfeeding women in Zimbabwe, 23 oz (650 g) of pureed papaya a day for 60 days raised serum retinol (P < 0.001), as did a beta-carotene capsule and carrots. That is a large daily amount of fruit. As a juice, treat it like other 100 percent juices. A review of systematic reviews, mostly observational, found tooth decay in children and small weight gain as the only consistent harms. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that juice sugar adds calories and caries risk for children and that juice lacks the protein and fiber of whole fruit. Who should be careful. People allergic to latex: in 11 Mexican patients with latex allergy who had papaya anaphylaxis, the authors warn papaya raises that risk, though these were selected patients and say nothing about how common it is. Papain, the papaya enzyme, provoked symptoms from itching to cramps and diarrhea in 1.05 percent of allergic patients in an old clinic study, and that was the enzyme rather than juice. People on warfarin: among 250 Hong Kong patients with atrial fibrillation, those eating herbal foods, papaya among them alongside garlic, ginger and green tea, at least 4 times a week spent less time in the target INR range (51.1 versus 58.1 percent, P = 0.046). That is an association, with papaya not separated out. Grapefruit juice cut blood levels of the blood pressure drugs aliskiren and celiprolol by about 80 to 90 percent, and apple and orange juice affected some drugs too, and papaya juice was not among the juices tested. We found no study of ripe papaya juice in pregnancy.

Sources

1. pjui-r1-01 · food survey dataset
   Papaya juice, 100%, fdc_id 2709327: Energy 57 KCAL, Total Sugars 13.91 G, Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid 3 MG per 100 g; Quantity not specified 248 g
   USDA FNDDS 2021-2023, Papaya juice, 100%, fdc_id 2709327 · checked 2026-10-01
2. pjui-r1-02 · randomized controlled trial
   Two groups of seven healthy volunteers (24 and 25 years of age; body mass index: 21 and 22 kg/m(2) respectively for subjects fed mango and papaya), were submitted to three types of meal treatments (juice, fresh and dried fruit). ... The three forms of consumption contributed to the rise of serum retinol levels. A comparison between the three forms revealed that papaya and mangoes consumed in form of juice or fresh fruit are the best forms because they had higher bioavailability values.
   Eur J Clin Nutr, 2007 · checked 2026-10-01
3. pjui-r1-03 · randomized crossover trial
   The bioavailability of β-carotene from papayas was approximately three times higher than that from carrots and tomatoes, whereas differences in the bioavailability of β-carotene from carrots and tomatoes were insignificant. ... Similarly, lycopene was approximately 2·6 times more bioavailable from papayas than from tomatoes.
   Br J Nutr, 2014 · checked 2026-10-01
4. pjui-r1-04 · randomized controlled trial
   The women were randomly assigned to three supplementation groups and a placebo group, and received 6 mg of beta-carotene capsules, 650 g puréed papaya, 100 g grated carrots or a placebo, daily for 60 d. ... Mean serum retinol increased significantly after supplementation in the beta-carotene group (P < 0.001), the papaya group (P < 0.001) and the carrot group (P < 0.001), but not in the placebo group (P > 0.05).
   J Nutr, 2001 · checked 2026-10-01
5. pjui-r1-05 · meta-analysis of RCTs
   RESULTS: After screening 2594 unique records, 15 RCTs (n = 1381; 806 interventions, 575 controls) met inclusion criteria. Including ascorbate-rich fruits in meals had a positive impact on serum ferritin [7 trials, n = 762; mean difference (MD) = 9.39 μg/L; P < 0.001; moderate certainty], hemoglobin (12 trials, n = 1141; MD = 1.34 g/L; P = 0.01; moderate certainty), serum transferrin receptor (6 studies; MD = -0.37 mg/L; P < 0.001; high certainty), and iron balance (1 trial; MD = 2.4; low certainty).
   Am J Clin Nutr, 2026 · checked 2026-10-01
6. pjui-r1-11 · systematic review
   Aside from increased risk of tooth decay in children and small amounts of weight gain in young children and adults, there is no conclusive evidence that consumption of 100% fruit juice has adverse health effects.
   Adv Nutr, 2018 · checked 2026-10-01
7. pjui-r1-12 · randomized controlled trial
   A single dose was 20 g, taken twice per day. After 30 days the participants were interviewed again. RESULTS: After the intake phase the disease related symptoms were found improved in both groups, indicating a strong placebo effect. However, the pain load reduction in the Caricol®-Gastro group was significantly larger (p=0.048).
   Neuro Endocrinol Lett, 2018 · checked 2026-10-01
8. pjui-r1-06 · meta-analysis
   Grapefruit juice (GFJ), an inhibitor of organic-anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) transporters and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, significantly decreased the AUC and Cmax of aliskiren and celiprolol by approximately 80-90 %. Conversely, the AUC and Cmax of calcium channel blockers decreased with variable degrees when co-administered with GFJ. Apple and orange juices have comparable effects on certain medications.
   Complement Ther Med, 2025 · checked 2026-10-01
9. pjui-r1-08 · controlled provocation study
   The five subjects with positive skin tests to papain underwent double-blind placebo-papain challenges. All papain challenges were positive. Placebo challenges were negative. Papain-induced symptoms included palatal itching, watering itchy eyes, sneezing, rhinorrhea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and diaphoresis. ... Confirmed papain sensitivity occurred in 1.05% of allergic subjects.
   Ann Allergy, 1985 · checked 2026-10-01
10. pjui-r1-13 · scoping review
    A total of 28 articles (ethnobotanical information: three, in vitro studies: three, ex vivo studies: one, in vivo study: 13, clinical studies: 10) were included for descriptive analysis, which covered study characteristics, juice preparation/formulations, study outcomes, and toxicity findings. Other than larvicidal activity, this review also reveals two medicinal potentials of C. papaya leaf juice on dengue infection, namely anti-thrombocytopenic and immunomodulatory effects.
    Nutrients, 2022 · checked 2026-10-01
11. pjui-r1-14 · regulatory decision
    POL-HC-7722 Papaya Supports pancreas activity and protein break-up. Papaya breaks down proteins and relieves after a heavy meal and when traveling in areas with different food hygiene. The papain enzymes in papaya break down proteins and activates digestive enzymes. Non-authorised
    EU Register on nutrition and health claims, claim POL-HC-7722, snapshot 2026-09-21 · checked 2026-10-01
12. pjui-r1-07 · observational cohort
    Up to 50% of the patients reported consumption of foods with herbal ingredients, including garlic (80.4%), ginger (74.8%), green tea (50.4%), and papaya (55.2%) but rarely herbal drugs such as danshen (1.2%), dong guai (0.8%), fenugreek (1.2%), psyllium seed (0.4%), and ginseng (4%). Infrequent users (1 kind of herb for <4 times per week and nonusers) were more likely to have an international normalized ratio within the optimal therapeutic range (2.0-3.0) than frequent users (>1 kind of herb for ≥4 times per week) (58.1% vs 51.1%, P = 0.046).
    J Cardiovasc Pharmacol, 2011 · checked 2026-10-01
13. pjui-r1-09 · descriptive study
    Out of 11 patients with LPS, 72.7% were females (7 to 46 years), all with a history of papaya-induced anaphylaxis, identified by medical history and medical notes plus latex-positive skin prick tests, with 63.3% exhibiting anaphylaxis in the skin prick tests. ... Hypersensitivity to papaya increases the risk of anaphylaxis in patients with latex allergy and, therefore, mortality.
    Rev Alerg Mex, 2018 · checked 2026-10-01
14. pjui-r1-10 · guideline
    High sugar content in juice contributes to increased calorie consumption and the risk of dental caries. In addition, the lack of protein and fiber in juice can predispose to inappropriate weight gain (too much or too little).
    Pediatrics, 2017 · checked 2026-10-01