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    Candida Albicans: The Hidden Infection

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    tomsnellingiphone
    Candida albicans is a common fungus that normally lives harmlessly in the body but can overgrow and cause infection when the immune system is weakened. The document describes a study of 50 patients who were tested for Candida antibodies and food sensitivities. Sixty percent of patients had positive Candida antibody test results, though only four percent of males tested positive. Patients commonly reported fatigue, headaches, digestive issues and mood problems. Treatment involves lifestyle changes like a sugar-restricted diet as well as antifungal medications and probiotics to restore intestinal balance. The study found correlations between positive Candida tests and food sensitivities to sugars and yeast.

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    Candida Albicans: The Hidden Infection

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    tomsnellingiphone
    29 views3 pages
    Candida albicans is a common fungus that normally lives harmlessly in the body but can overgrow and cause infection when the immune system is weakened. The document describes a study of 50 patients who were tested for Candida antibodies and food sensitivities. Sixty percent of patients had positive Candida antibody test results, though only four percent of males tested positive. Patients commonly reported fatigue, headaches, digestive issues and mood problems. Treatment involves lifestyle changes like a sugar-restricted diet as well as antifungal medications and probiotics to restore intestinal balance. The study found correlations between positive Candida tests and food sensitivities to sugars and yeast.

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    1999-v14n04-p198.pdf

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    Candida albicans is a common fungus that normally lives harmlessly in the body but can overgrow and cause infection when the immune system is weakened. The document describes a study of 50 patients who were tested for Candida antibodies and food sensitivities. Sixty percent of patients had positive Candida antibody test results, though only four percent of males tested positive. Patients commonly reported fatigue, headaches, digestive issues and mood problems. Treatment involves lifestyle changes like a sugar-restricted diet as well as antifungal medications and probiotics to restore intestinal balance. The study found correlations between positive Candida tests and food sensitivities to sugars and yeast.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    29 views3 pages

    Candida Albicans: The Hidden Infection

    Uploaded by

    tomsnellingiphone
    Candida albicans is a common fungus that normally lives harmlessly in the body but can overgrow and cause infection when the immune system is weakened. The document describes a study of 50 patients who were tested for Candida antibodies and food sensitivities. Sixty percent of patients had positive Candida antibody test results, though only four percent of males tested positive. Patients commonly reported fatigue, headaches, digestive issues and mood problems. Treatment involves lifestyle changes like a sugar-restricted diet as well as antifungal medications and probiotics to restore intestinal balance. The study found correlations between positive Candida tests and food sensitivities to sugars and yeast.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 3

    CASE FROM THE CENTER

    Candida Albicans: The Hidden Infection


    James A. Jackson, Ph.D., BCLD;1 Hugh D. Riordan, M. D.;2
    Ronald Hunninghake, M. D.;2 Chris Revard, BS(CLS)2
    Patients seen at The Center seldom
    present with one complaint. The usual patient is chronically ill and has been seen by
    several physicians without resolution of
    their problems.
    These patients have many major signs
    and symptoms that present diagnostic
    challenges to the staff of The Center. Occasionally, some have so many problems, their
    major complaint is that they feel bad all
    over. The protocol used in dealing with
    these patients include a complete physical,
    history, and psychological examination.
    Also included is a comprehensive nutritional evaluation with a food questionnaire
    and appropriate laboratory testing.1 If the
    complaints include fatigue, headache, gas,
    bloating, diarrhea, depression, memory
    loss, drowsiness, joint and muscle pain,
    Candida albicans overgrowth is suspected.
    Candida albicans (referred to hereafter as Candida) is a microrganism classified as a fungus, but is commonly referred
    to as yeast. Unlike plants that need light to
    survive, fungi thrive in dark, warm and
    moist environments. Fungi are found in the
    air, moist, shady soil, fruit, water, and leftover food. It is also present in humans as
    part of the normal flora that co-exist with
    approximately 300 trillion other microrganisms in the body. Candida may be
    found in humans shortly after birth and
    persists throughout life. Approximately 90
    percent of all infants at six months of age
    and about 100 percent of all adults test
    positive for Candida. It is found in the nose,
    throat, mouth, genito-urinary system and
    gastro-intestinal system and generally
    causes no problems. It is, however, an opportunistic microrganism that will rapidly
    1. Professor, Medical Technology Department, Wichita
    State University, Wichita, KS 67260-0043
    2. The Center for the Improvement in Human Functioning Intl, Inc. 3100 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS 67219

    198

    proliferate and colonize in many tissues of


    the body given the slightest opportunity.
    This overgrowth will occur when the immune system is weakened, or the balance
    between normal flora and yeast is upset.
    Some causes for the overgrowth of
    Candida is:
    1. Widespread use of antibiotics including medications from prescription
    drugs for chronic infections to consumption of antibiotic-treated foods (meat,
    dairy, poultry and eggs).
    2. High cortisol or other steroid levels
    from stress, prescription drugs, prolonged
    illness and malnutrition.
    3. High estrogen levels from pregnancy, birth control pills, estrogen replacement therapy and obesity.
    4. Diets high in carbohydrates, refined
    sugar, yeast or yeast products, molds, fermented foods, excessive juices and diabetes.2
    If any of the conditions listed above are
    present, Candida overgrowth, or Candidiasis, may occur. In the yeast form, Candida
    reproduces by budding, and at this stage
    is usually not invasive. However, in the
    mycelia or fungal stage, it forms long, rootlike structures that can penetrate the
    mucus membranes. Candidiasis may occur
    both in men and women, but is seen more
    often in women and, generally, with more
    side effects. As stated above, the signs and
    symptoms of yeast overgrowth are many and
    may masquerade as almost any chronic illness. These include yeast vaginitis (itching,
    burning and discharge), menstrual complaints, prostatitis, impotence, bladder infections, abdominal pain, belching, bloating,
    heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, rectal
    itching or irritation, nasal itching, congestion, asthma, headache, earache, thrush or
    oral Candidasis, severe depression, confusion, extreme irritability and inability to
    concentrate. As the disease progresses,

    Candida Albicans: The Hidden Infection

    Canditoxins can be released and may be


    responsible for the symptoms listed above
    as well as chronic fatigue.3 It is also thought
    that yeast overgrowth in the intestine may
    lead to the leaky gut syndrome. In this
    condition, the lining of the intestine allows
    large molecules of food to enter the blood
    and may result in food allergies.4
    Candidiasis may be confirmed by the
    presence of the yeast organism in feces or
    urine, by vaginal or throat swab, or by measuring specific Candida antibodies in the
    blood. These include anti-Candida antibodies IgG, IgM, and IgA (Candiquant, TM
    Biomerica, Inc., 1533 Monrovia Ave., Newport Beach, CA 92663). Interpretations of
    the antibody results are as follows:
    Negativeless than
    12.5 Units/mL
    Equivocal or borderline 12.5 to 25 Units/mL
    (should be repeated in two weeks)
    Positive
    26 to 100 Units/mL
    Results greater than 100 units indicate
    a highly elevated amount of antibody. High
    IgM titers may indicate a current or early
    onset of the disease, while elevated IgG
    results may indicate a past, active or prolonged infection, depending on the level of
    antibody. Elevated IgA may indicate involvement of mucosal surfaces.

    the cytotoxic food sensitive test is included.5,6


    Discussion
    The data supports the theory that
    Candida overgrowth is more common in
    women, has many symptoms in common,
    produce anti-Candida antibodies, and may
    be one of the causes for food allergy or
    sensitivity. Treatment of Candida
    overgrowth should be holistic to be effective. Antifungal medications alone may
    reduce the symptoms but not completely
    control the disease. Lifestyle changes such
    as control or restriction of refined sugars
    and excessive fruit juices and yeast from
    the diet is required. Botanicals such as
    grapefruit seed extract or low risk pharmaceuticals (nystatin or lamisil) can be
    used to kill Candida in the intestine, sinuses or gall bladder. Biotin, as a supplement, will discourage transformation to
    the invasive myceloid form of Candida.
    Another effective treatment is the use of
    probiotics to restore balance in the intestinal flora, the most important of which
    is high quality Lactobacillus acidophilus.
    For further information about yeast-connected health problems contact your physician.
    References

    The Case
    Charts from 50 patients (9 males, 41
    females) who had an anti-Candida IgG test
    performed were randomly selected from
    our files to check the prevalence of a positive Candida test in relation to the patients symptoms. Ten patients (20%) had
    negative titer, ten patients were borderline
    (20%) while 30 patients (60%) had positive titers. Only two males (4%) had positive titers. Table 1 (p.200) lists ten patients with the highest anti-Candida IgG
    titers, their diagnoses and other diagnostic tests, where applicable. Since Candida
    overgrowth can damage the intestinal mucosa leading to food allergies, results from

    1. Jackson JA, Riordan HD, Fogeron K,


    Hunninghake R: The nutrition evaluation
    questionnaire as a diagnostic aid. J Orthomol
    Med, 1998; 13(1): 28-30.
    2. Not Well? Could it be Candida? Health Hunter
    Newsletter, 1999; Richard Lewis, editor, 13:2.
    3. Crook WG: The Yeast Connection. 3rd edition,
    Jackson, TN, Professional Books, .
    4. Peter S: Hidden dangers: an overview of food
    allergies. Advance for Physicians Assistants,
    1997; 5(12):46-47.
    5. Jackson JA, Riordan HD, Neathery S, Guinn C: The
    cytotoxic food sensitivity test an important diagnostic tool. J Orthomol Med, 1995; 10(1): 60-61.
    6. Jackson JA, Riordan HD, Neathery S: Comparison of the food cytotoxic sensitivity test to the
    RAST/EAST test. Amer Clin Lab, 1991: 3:20-21.

    199

    Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine

    Vol. 14, No. 4, 1999

    Table 1. Correlation of diagnosis, anti-Candida IgG titers and cytotoxic food


    sensitivity test.
    Age/sex

    diagnosis

    IgG titer
    (> 26 Units/mL)

    + ++ +++ ++++

    Cytotoxic test*

    Comments

    69/F

    Chronic fatigue, allergies


    vaginitis, loss of memory

    72

    not done

    62/F

    Chronic fatigue, sinusitis

    71

    not done

    43/F

    Insomnia, allergy, headaches 63


    hypertension

    15 10 1 0

    Negative to yeast, wheat,


    sugars

    67/F

    Arthritis, easy bruising


    hyperlipidemia

    20 10 1 0

    Sensitive to cane,
    beet,maple sugar,
    Brewer/Bakers yeast

    52/F

    Candidiasis, fibromyalgia 55
    sore tongue,thyroid disorders

    11 6 2

    Negative to yeast,
    wheat, sugars

    53/F

    Arthritis, diabetes, COPD,


    emphysema

    53

    17 9 5

    Sensitive to cane, beet,


    maple sugars

    55/F

    Loss of memory, fatigue


    depression, dry eyes,
    recurrent Candida

    44

    17 10 2 0

    Negative to yeast, wheat,


    sugars

    57/F

    Allergies, arthritis,
    obesity, hypertension
    hyperlipidemia

    44

    18 4 2

    Negative to yeast, wheat,


    sugars

    53/F

    Allergies, fibromyalgia
    arthritis

    42

    15 11 2

    Sensitive to Brewer,/Bakers
    yeast

    44/F

    Chronic fatigue, headache 40


    easy bruising irritable bowel
    insomnia

    18

    Negative to yeast, wheat,


    sugars

    55

    200

    9 3

    Intestinal parasite present

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