XYLITOL and CANDIDA...

[Guest guest]

After many people recommended xylitol for my post-surgery gum

and tooth problems, I did a few google searches, and found this

study that showed interesting results regarding xylitol and

candida. Yes, it was done on mice, not men, but sounds

encouraging to me:

* BABY MICE AND YEAST

The researchers used yeast grown from the spinal fluid of a man

who died from an overwhelming yeast infection. This yeast was

then used to infect 63 mice. Of these 63, 46 survived but only 36

were used for the experiments. The 36 mice were divided into 3

groups. In group one, 14 mice were kept for observation and

comparison with the other two groups. In group two, 12 mice

drank water which had the sugar substitute xylitol (a natural

sweetener) added. Xylitol is not ordinarily used by Candida and

unlike glucose does not help yeast grow. In group three, 10 mice

drank water with added glucose. The immune systems of the

mice were then damaged by injecting them with the anticancer

drug Cytoxan®(cyclophosphamide).

* RESULTS--GROWTH OF YEAST

Yeast was detected in feces samples from all the mice

approximately 16 days after they had been infected. A week later

the amount of fungus in feces samples from the mice fed

glucose increased to levels greater than in samples from the

other mice. This increase was statistically significant, that is, not

likely due to chance alone.

* RESULTS--CHEMOTHERAPY

When all of the mice were given chemotherapy to suppress their

immune systems the amount of yeast rose in feces samples

from the mice fed glucose. The level of yeast in fecal samples

from the other two groups of mice remained " relatively stable " ,

according to the researchers.

* RESULTS--INTESTINES

Eighty percent of mice fed glucose had detectable yeast in their

intestines. In comparison, 90% of the mice fed xylitol or no sugar

had either no detectable yeast or only minor outbreaks. This

difference between the mice fed glucose and others fed xylitol or

no sugar was highly statistically significant.

* SUMMARY

Adding glucose to the diets of baby mice clearly " stimulated the

growth of [yeast] in their intestines " , stated the researchers.

Xylitol did not increase the growth of yeast in mice. The

intestines of mice fed glucose had yeast that was able to

penetrate the intestine and enter the body.

* GLUCOSE

This sugar is important in stimulating the growth of yeast. This

change, stimulated by glucose, helps fungi resist attack by the

immune system. In these experiments xylitol did not help the

growth of yeast.

The researchers warned that glucose supplements in the diet

can encourage the growth of Candida. Reducing the amount of

added sugars in the diets of patients with HIV/AIDS (and others?

ed.) may help them avoid severe oral and intestinal yeast

infections.