We recommend you read about the available treatments by clicking on the link below. Then go to the Ninazu products pages where you'll find a range of probiotics and nutritional supplements that have proven effective in alleviating many symptoms of candida.

Treatments

Before discussing available methods of treatment for candidiasis, you should bear in mind the following:

• Elimination of candida overgrowth is a lengthy process that can take 4-6 months.
• Long term sufferers of candidiasis will also have multiple nutrient deficiencies, therefore dietary supplements are essential for recovery.
• Many illnesses where candidiasis has been implicated involve other, non-candida related symptoms as well. In these cases elimination of candida overgrowth will allow the identification, treatment or management of non-candida related problems.

Antifungal therapy

Treatment with antifungal medication (Nystatin, Diflucan) has proven effective in treating candidiasis and disorders where candida overgrowth can be a causative factor but there are several problems with such treatments.

Antifungal medications are not prescribed for longer periods than six month because they can be harmful if taken for a very long time. During this time the symptoms are substantially alleviated, but almost universally they come back after discontinuing the medication.

A possible reason for this is that not all the yeast are killed by the treatment either because drug-resistant yeast appeared during treatment or some of the yeast are hidden in recesses of the intestinal wall or in the deeper layers of the mucosa where they cannot be reached by the drug. The resistant or hidden yeast then readily repopulate the intestine after antifungal medications are stopped.

Antifungal medication also does not help repopulate the gastrointestinal tract with friendly organisms.

References:

Antifungal Agents: Mode of Action, Mechanisms of Resistance, and Correlation of These Mechanisms with Bacterial Resistance Mahmoud A. Ghannoum and Louis B. Rice Clinical Microbiology Reviews, October 1999, p. 501-517, Vol. 12, No. 4

Diet

Traditionally diet has been the most effective method in controlling candida overgrowth. The candida diet is very similar to the gluten-free/casein-free (GFCF) diet of autistic children and to some of the low cholesterol diets. According to those who tried it, it is very hard to stick to and can be quite costly. It requires elimination of all forms of sugar, grain, dairy and fermented products and all processed food.

While diet has been very effective in keeping candida at bay it is generally true, however, that symptoms return immediately after going off the diet.

References:

An approach to the nutritional management of autism. Kidd PM. Altern Ther Health Med 2003 Sep-Oct:9(5):22-31

Probiotics

Probiotics alone have the potential to achieve the two steps necessary to treat chronic candida infections effectively, namely

• eliminate the fungal form of the yeast
• replenish the gastrointestinal tract with friendly bacteria.

• Survive the process from production to ones shelf or refrigerator
• Survive the passage through the acidity of the stomach and exposure to bile in the upper intestine
• Adhere to the mucosal surface of the gastrointestinal tract
• Act antagonistically towards the microflora of the gut in general (to help establish itself) and toward a target pathogen in particular.
• Are present in high enough numbers to achieve all of the above

The majority of probiotics on the market do not fulfill the criteria listed above. They contain Lactobacillus species (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus bifidus are the most common ones) that are quite sensitive to temperature changes, exposure to oxygen, and very often by the time they are taken they contain very small number of active bacteria. Most Lactobacilli do not pass the gastrointestinal tract very well; both the acidity of the stomach and exposure to bile are able to destroy them. The most common Lactobacillus strains are not very good at establishing themselves in the intestinal mucosa and even if they had the ability they do not arrive in high enough numbers to have a substantial effect.

Lactobacillus sporogenes is a rare exception to the above. It is a spore forming bacterium that is very resistant to heat, acids and bile and it is very good at establishing itself in the intestinal mucosa after germination from the spores. It is the major component of ThreeLac.

References:

Lactobacillus sporogenes (monograph). Altern Mwd Rev 2002 Aug;7(4):340-2
Fuller R. "Probiotics in human medicine" Gut 32:439-442, 1991
Microbiologic characteristics of Lactobacillus products used or colonization of the vagina. Hughes VL, Hillier SL. Obstet Gynecol. 1990 Feb;75(2):244-8.
Lactobacillus sporogenes an advancement in lactobacillus therapy. Ghandi A, B.The Eastem Phamacist-August 1988.
Majeed M, Prakash L. Lactospor(R): The Effective Probiotic. Piscataway, NJ: NutriScience Publishers, Inc.; 1998.
Improved growth and viability of lactobacilli in the presence of Bacillus subtilis (natto), catalase, or subtilisin. Hosoi T, Ametani A, Kiuchi K, Kaminogawa S. Can J Microbiol. 2000 Oct; 46(10): 892-7.
Fate and dissemination of Bacillus subtilis spores in a murine model. Hoa TT, Duc LH, Isticato R, Baccigalupi L, Ricca E, Van PH, Cutting SM. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2001 Sep; 67(9): 3819-23.
Page T. Metabolic approaches to the treatment of autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2000;30:463-469. Page T.

Supplements

Probiotics can reestablish a healthy gut environment but they are unable to help with the damage caused by the lon- standing nutrient deficiencies that often develop during candidiasis. Most individuals also have a weakened immune system either inherently or as a result of the yeast overgrowth. It is advisable to address these deficiencies together with the candida treatment.

For example for people who have Leaky Gut Syndrome or any ailment resulting from that it is advisable to address both the candida overgrowth and the permeable intestinal lining together. Although candidiasis can be the cause of Leaky Gut Syndrome eliminating candida alone will not heal the intestinal mucosa.

Vitamins and Minerals
There are forty nutrients that the body is unable to produce. Of the forty, fifteen are vitamins and fourteen are minerals. Because all required nutrients work together, a shortage of just one nutrient may result in an imbalance or underproduction of hundreds of essential compounds.

Vitamins play a role in all aspects of cellular functioning from DNA synthesis to bone formation. Today it is clear that daily vitamin intake can not only ward off diseases caused by vitamin deficiencies, but also play a role in prevention. Intake of several vitamins above the minimum daily requirement may prevent heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and other chromic diseases.

Minerals play major roles in cellular energy production, function and maintenance. Minerals are major components in enzyme systems, acting as inorganic cofactors that regulate cellular metabolism. They are indispensable for nerve transmission and muscle function. The most common mineral deficiencies are in magnesium, calcium, zinc and copper. The uptake and utilization of these minerals in interdependent and it is advisable to choose supplements that provide the adequate ratio of the biologically available molecules.

Details on vitamin and mineral requirements can be found at the links listed on our Links page.

Antioxidants
Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that can set off cellular chain reactions that can cause damage at the cellular level. Antioxidants are the molecules that can inactivate free radicals. Antioxidants include several vitamins (C, E, beta-carotene) minerals (selenium), coenzyme Q10, and a large number of other compounds.

It is generally accepted that several disorders, autism among them, are accompanied by antioxidant leakage from the body. This is attributed to decreased levels of gluthation, the body's natural antioxidant molecule. Gluthation deficiency impairs cell-to-cell communication that, in turn adversely effects the functioning of every single organ in our body.

There is a lot of controversy over their use as dietary supplements and their effectiveness but, in principle, it is advantageous to include antioxidants among the supplements. Information about antioxidants is abundant and we refer the reader to the links listed on our Links page.

Glyconutrients
It has long been known that various sugar molecules are integral parts of proteins (glycoproteins) and lipids (glycolipids) and that they are crucial for the proper functioning of these molecules. It is relatively new, however, to use sugar molecules as supplements and, although new in concept, they are rapidly becoming an essential part of nutritional supplements.

The most important (but not only) function of glycoproteins and glycolipids is in cell-to-cell communication and it is not surprising to read the following:

"Genetic defects in glycoprotein metabolism usually result in neurologic symptoms, but newly discovered defects in glycoprotein biosynthesis (the carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndromes) also present as severe gastrointestinal disorders with hypoglycemia, protein-losing enteropathy, and hepatic pathology. Glycosylation disorders may be more widespread than previously thought…."

Disorders in protein glycosylation and potential therapy: tip of an iceberg?
Freeze HH. J Pediatr. 1998 Nov; 133(5): 593-600.

Glyconutrients contain eight simple sugars mannose, galactose, fucose, xylose, glucose, sialic acid, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine. Although our bodies are able to synthesize these sugars they are preferentially utilized from diet.

Several conditions linked to candida overgrowth are also linked to deficient carbohydrate metabolism (autism, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), but glyconutrients have such a fundamental effect on every cell in our body that it will be beneficial to everybody with impaired cellular immunity and oxidative damage. Therefore, it is highly recommended that glyconutrients be included as supplements in the treatment of yeast overgrowth.

For further information please look up the links listed on our Links page.

Phytonutrients
All fruits and vegetables contribute something valuable to your overall health and many compounds have been shown to have disease-preventing properties. Fruits and vegetables contain an abundance of phenolic compounds, terpenoids, pigments and other natural antioxidants (including vitamins A, C and E).

Some vegetables contain more useful compounds than others, but they may not be very pleasant to consume (such as brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, garlic, etc.). The easiest way to add these vegetables to our diet is by taking phytonutrient.

Enzymes

Digestive enzymes are molecules that metabolize proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. Most are produced in the pancreas and released into the intestines. Enzyme deficiencies can lead to heartburn, gas, bloating and constipation. Enzyme supplements have been effective in alleviating symptoms of digestive disorders because they contain a large variety of enzymes that supplement our own.
Individuals with peptidase deficiencies (such as DPP IV in autism) may still need to eliminate a certain food group, or try to take specific enzymes that substitute the body's own. There are several peptidase products on the market that can be used as a supplement to or a substitute for the GFCF diet. A chewable peptidase complex is due to be released in March and we plan to carry it when it becomes available.

Herbs

Several herbs or plant extracts have been known for their antifungal properties but their success on their own appears to be modest at best. The most common ones are

• Raw garlic (4-6 cloves a day recommended, supplements do not seem to be effective)
• Grapefruit seed extract (extremely bitter)
• Olive leaf extract (has a distinct aftertaste)
• Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a South American herbal medicine from the Amazon that is used widely to treat inflammatory disorders. It also has immune stimulating and antioxidant properties. It has been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Leaky Gut Syndrome and other intestinal ailments.

References:

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis) are independent of their alkaloid content. Sandoval M, Okuhama NN, Zhang XJ, Condezo LA, Lao J, Angeles' FM, Musah RA, Bobrowski P, Miller MJ. Phytomedicine. 2002 May; 9(4): 325-37.
Review of antiviral and immunomodulating properties of plants of the Peruvian rainforest with a particular emphasis on Una de Gato and Sangre de Grado. Williams JE. Altern Med Rev. 2001 Dec; 6(6): 567-79.
Randomized double blind trial of an extract from the pentacyclic alkaloid-chemotype of uncaria tomentosa for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Mur E, Hartig F, Eibl G, Schirmer M. J Rheumatol. 2002 Apr; 29(4): 678-81.

For further information on various treatment options and supplements please go to our Links page.