Gastrointestinal Yeast Overgrowth

Title: Gastrointestinal Yeast Overgrowth

Key words: candida albicans, gut commensal, gut fermentation profiles, chronic yeast overgrowth, dysbiosis, investigations, treatment

Date: Oct 2000

Category: The Gut

Type: Article

Author: Dr C Forsyth

Gastrointestinal Yeast Overgrowth

Candida albicans is a normal gut commensal but in certain circumstances candida and other yeasts can proliferate and cause major problems. In current main-stream medicine we only treat gut candida when it is a potential source for vaginal or systemic candida; the GI yeast overgrowth syndrome is not yet recognised. Of 284 Gut Fermentation Profiles (Biolab) performed in an eight year period, 56% were positive for intestinal yeast overgrowth.

The effects of chronic gut candidiasis include:

Malabsorption - nutritional deficiencies
Leaky gut syndrome
Increased susceptibility to intestinal pathogens
Local symptoms of increased fermentation

In GI yeast overgrowth a strong fungal sensitivity (yeast, mould and mushroom/toadstool) frequently develops. For this reason major improvement does not occur unless the patient avoids:

1) ingested fungi

2) sugar (as this stimulates the growth of GI tract yeasts)

If chronic GI yeast overgrowth is a major problem in a patient, treatment produces a very dramatic multi-system improvement in their symptomatology, health and well-being. If the predisposing factors are not identified and dealt with adequately, long term maintenance treatment will be required.

The following symptoms may indicate chronic GI yeast overgrowth:

A history of candida elsewhere - oral, vaginal, etc

Alcohol intolerance

Arthralgia

Cataneous tinea

Chemical sensitivities - petrol, diesel, paint fumes, perfumes, etc.

Cravings for sugars, refined carbohydrates, yeasted foods, incl. alcohol

Dyspepsia

Fatigue, lethargy, "woolly head"

Fluid retention

Headaches, migraines

History of repeated or long term use of antibiotics

Irritability, mood swings, depression

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Mould sensitivity- symptoms worse in damp environments

Myalgia

Onset or worsening in symptoms after antibiotics

Onset or worsening in symptoms during or soon after pregnancy

Onset or worsening in symptoms on oral contraceptives

Pruritis ani

Recurrent sterile UTI's

Seborrhoeic eczema

Sexual partner has had candida problems

Symptoms worse in damp environmentsUrticariaWorsening of symptoms after eating sugars, refined carbohydrates, yeasted foods, mushrooms.

Some Causes of Chronic GI Yeast Overgrowth:

Abnormal gut motility
Antibiotics

Corticosteroids

Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus
Female hormone inbalance, esp. oestrogen dominance
High sugar intake, incl. fruit

Hypochlorhydria, achlorhydria, drug-induced hypoacidity
Increased small intestinal pH
Intestinal parasites eg GiardiasisIntestinal adhesionsStasis due to intestinal structural changes - diverticular disease, blind loops, radiation damageOther drug therapiesPresence of xenobiotics
Mercury from amalgam restorations
Immunodeficiency syndromes, esp. sIgA deficiency
Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency - chronic pancreatitis, etc.
Poor diet/nutritional status (esp. high fat and simple carbohydrates)
Stress

Investigations:

Gut fermentation profile - Blood ethanol > 0.1mg.dl ( >22umol/1 ) one hour after a glucose load - Biolab (see Directory)

Candida - specific gut secretory IgA) - Candascan (see Directory)
Serum Candida antigen) - Diagnostec (see Directory)

Serum Candida antibodies ( not much use due to frequency of false negatives )

Treatment

Identification, avoidance and treatment of predisposing factors (otherwise maintenance anti-yeast treatment will be necessary ).
Anti-yeast diet - sugar free, fungal free.
Correction of nutritional deficiencies.
Natural anti-fungal agents- caprylic acid, citrus seed extract, garlic, other herbal products
Probiotics ( Lactobacillus acidophilus & L bifidus ).
Prebiotics ( fructo-oligosaccharide, Inulin ).
Conventional antifungal agents- nystatin, amphotericin, griseofulvin, sporanox, diflucan, etc. (I hardly ever need to use these ).

Recommended treatments:

Exspore & Candaway used together, one of each tds with each meal for 4-6 weeks

Oregano complex & Bioacidophilus, two with evening meal for 6 weeks