Foot fungus treatment can be expensive. You may need to visit a doctor.
Unfortunately, the high cost – and overall scariness – of foot fungus push many people to the supplement industry, where manufacturers are happy to make bizarre claims.
NanoDefense Pro is yet another toenail and foot fungus supplement available exclusively online. The supplement claims to use “protective nanoparticles” to promote clean, healthy nails.
Each drop of NanoDefense Pro’s concentrated, liquid formula contains a blend of nano silver and other active ingredients. These ingredients are so small, they’re “nano” sized, which apparently helps with absorption.
By applying NanoDefense Pro to your foot fungus-covered feet daily, you can purportedly enjoy lasting relief. The nanoparticles target your “foot microbiome” to help eliminate the root cause of toenail fungus.
That all sounds good. However, there’s no evidence NanoDefense Pro eliminates toenail fungus or can replace a doctor-recommended foot fungus treatment plan – which typically consists of topical antibiotics and lifestyle changes to keep fungus from returning.
Features
NanoDefense Pro says the right things to entice people with foot fungus, toenail fungus, and other issues.
The makers of NanoDefense Pro seem to suggest applying drops of the formula daily can promote the “microbiome” of your feet.
Typically, when nutritional supplement companies talk about the microbiome, they’re talking about gut health.
Your feet, like your gut, have their own microbiome. In fact, every inch of your skin has its own microbiome. This microbiome consists of a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria working together to defend your body from harm.
Ingredients
This is where NanoDefense Pro gets a little whacky. The supplement appears to mostly contain “nano” versions of quercetin, curcumin, and silver along with moisturizing botanicals like aloe vera and cucumber .
Silver has been used since ancient times as a natural antibacterial. Harmful bacteria could die when they come into contact with silver.
Curcumin and quercetin, meanwhile, are natural antioxidants. They neutralize free radicals and reactive oxygen species that cause inflammation.
The remaining ingredients, including aloe vera and cucumber, can moisturize the skin, helping to lock in hydration, to promote a thriving microbiome.
That all sounds good – but there’s little formal evidence any of the ingredients can create a meaningful difference against foot or toenail fungus. Instead, NanoDefense Pro appears to simply moisturize your feet with a blend of water and trace amounts of plant extracts:
Nano Silver: Nano silver uses silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to promote antifungal effects. Silver has been used since ancient times as a natural antifungal material. Today, studies show silver can help with common fungal pathogens like Candida and dermatophytes like Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Silver nanoparticles work by disrupting fungal cell membranes, leading to cell death.
Nano Curcumin: Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, exhibits antioxidant and antifungal effects. Some studies have shown it can specifically help with Candida albicans, a leading cause of fungal infections. By creating a nanoformulation of curcumin, the makers of NanoDefense Pro aim to enhance the bioavailability of the active ingredient while making it more effective for targeting fungus when applied topically.
Nano Quercetin: Quercetin is a flavonoid shown to promote antifungal and antioxidant effects – similar to curcumin. It appears to work by affecting the ergosterol content of fungal cell membranes, weakening the exterior of cells and causing cell death.
Luteolin: Luteolin is another flavonoid linked to antifungal activity. Studies suggest it can induce apoptosis (cell death) in fungal cells, potentially helping with fungal infections when applied topically.
Deoxyribonuclease: Also known as DNase, this enzyme can degrade the DNA in biofilm, which is the protective layer surrounding and protecting fungal cells. By disrupting biofilms, DNase could make antifungal agents more effective.
Cape Aloe Vera Extract: Aloe vera has been prized for centuries for its moisturization and healing properties. Today, those effects make aloe a popular complementary ingredient in foot fungus formulas like NanoDefense Pro. Plus, aloe has natural compounds that exhibit antifungal activity.
Chrysin: Chrysin has anti-inflammatory effects. It’s a flavonoid found in certain plants, although there’s little specific evidence linking it to antifungal effects on foot fungus infections.
Peptides: Peptides are the building blocks of proteins and amino acids. Some studies show antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can disrupt fungal pathogens by attacking cell membranes and inhibiting growth. In fact, researchers are actively exploring AMPs as an alternative treatment for fungal infections.
Cucumber Extract: Cucumber extract contains similar properties to aloe: it helps to moisturize and soothe the skin, accelerating your body’s natural healing processes.
Deionized Water: Deionized water is the solvent and carrier within NanoDefense Pro. It holds all other ingredients together, keeps them stable, and aids in their application.
Trick Factor
Foot fungus is a serious condition that, when left untreated, could kill you. Full stop.
Despite the deadliness of the condition, foot fungus continues to be a popular target for the “natural remedy” crowd. Some supplements use essential oils to kill harmful bacteria. Others claim to fight fungus from the inside out by supporting your immune system.
Unfortunately for NanoDefense Pro supporters, there’s little evidence you can permanently eliminate foot fungus by targeting the “microbiome” of your feet using “nano” ingredients.
It’s not up to us to disprove NanoDefense Pro. It’s up to the manufacturer to prove their supplement works – and for now, the manufacturer doesn’t provide sufficient evidence showing the formula has any impact on toenail fungus, nor is there any evidence it can replace a doctor-recommended treatment plan for foot fungus.
Pricing
NanoDefense Pro costs less than topical antibiotics but more than the average topical turmeric supplement, which is why we rated it as a “6” overall.
Plus, 3 and 6 bottle purchases include free shipping and two free bonus eBooks written by quasi-health experts (including clueless supplement ghostwriters like me).
If you’re interested in using silver to defend against toenail fungus, then you can probably find it for a cheaper price. However, NanoDefense Pro contains a blend of multiple botanicals along with nano silver – including ingredients tough to find in other fomrulas.
NanoDefense Pro: Overall Rating
Some supplements are harmless: weight loss supplements like Java Burn and Sumatra Slim Belly Tonic aren’t likely to hurt you, for example, even if they don’t do much for weight loss.
People who rely exclusively on NanoDefense Pro to treat toenail fungus, however, could get hurt. Toenail and foot fungi infections are serious conditions that may require formal medical treatment. If you ignore your doctor’s advice and take a popular internet remedy instead, it could have significant impacts on your overall health.
Nevertheless, there is some evidence showing silver has natural antibacterial properties, and that the other ingredients in NanoDefense Pro (like curcumin, quercetin, aloe vera, and cucumber extract) could soothe the skin, potentially complementing a doctor-prescribed antibiotic regimen. That’s the only reason we rated NanoDefense Pro above 1 / 10.
References
Parikh, P. M., & Vaidya, R. A. (2008).
The role of Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae in human health and disease. Journal of Applied Phycology, 20(4), 381–386. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-007-9210-5
Nguyen, H. T., Lee, Y. S., & Choi, Y. S. (2023).
Effects of Haematococcus pluvialis supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammation in humans: A randomized controlled trial. Nutrients, 15(5), 1102. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051102
Kim, J. K., Lee, S. H., & Park, J. S. (2008).
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Haematococcus pluvialis in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. Food Chemistry, 111(4), 806–812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.05.032
Leave a Reply