Summary-line: 1-Jan n, wilcox@cis.ohio-state. #Immune: Candida--Syndrome's Existance Doubted *** EOOH *** Return-Path: Date: Tue, 1 Jan 91 12:47:35 pst From: cnorman (Cynthia Norman) To: cnorman, wilcox@cis.ohio-state.edu, luna@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu, ames!chinet.chi.il.us!chaz@ucsd.edu, anasaz!john@asuvax.eas.asu.edu, dwyer@nosc.mil, jgautier@ads.com, b-davis@cai.utah.edu, richter@triton.unm.edu, hxkpy@slacvm.slac.stanford.edu, botteron@bu-it.bu.edu, rollo@xylogics.com, proud@ihlpy.att.com, bill@picard.att.com, jsparkes@bnr.ca, island!green@uunet.uu.net, ann@snow-white.merit-tech.com, iex!neptune.iex.com!bert@uunet.uu.net, siang@biochem.umass.edu, smalley@pilot.njin.net, king@reasoning.com, mnetor!perle!kevin@cs.toronto.edu, afc@shibaya.lonestar.org, mark.ochsankehl@p2.f175.n120.z1.fidonet.org, abc@brl.mil Subject: Immune: Candida--Syndrome's Existance Doubted Reply-To: cnorman@ucsd.edu The following was in the LA Times about a week ago: Syndrome's Existance Doubted A new study has raised new questions about the existence of a mysterious syndrome that some doctors have linked to repeated yeast infections, researchers said last week. In the study, the widely used anti-fungal drug nystatin was no more effective than a dummy drug in relieving symptoms such as fatige, prementrual tension, gastrointestinal problems and depression in 42 women with a history of vaginal yeast infections. "I think these data cast further doubt on the existence of the syndrome," which is variously known as chronic candiasis, candida-related complex and candiasis hypersensitivity syndrome, said Dr. Willian Dismukes of the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham. Yeast infections are caused by the fungus Candida albicans, which is commonly found in the intestinal tract and the vagina. Usually, it does not create problems. But if factors such as use of antibiotics or pregnancy allow the fungus to grow rapidly, it can cause vaginal infections in women. Some researchers believe that chronic candiasis not only causes vaginal irritation and discharge but a host of other symptoms as well. However, in the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dismukes and co-researchers concluded that their results "provide additional objective evidence that the syndrome is not a verifiable condition." (From Times Staff and Wire Reports) --------------------------------------------------------- Okay, let's look at this from a scientific and personal point of view. This study reminds be of one I saw on reading dificulties. The researchers examined the idea that dyslexia (broadly used to mean any inability to read effectively, after being taught, once factors such as retardation and visual problems were ruled out) was the reversing of letters while reading. They studied a large group of poor readers and found that most of them did not reverse letters while reading. They then concluded that dyslexia was not reversing letters and this phenomonon didn't really exist. What I know about Candida, the syndrome as we know it, says it has little relation to vaginal yeast infections (although vaginal yeast infections can be a symptom in women with Candida). In fact, Nystatin has long been known to be not the greatest treatment for vaginal yeast infections. So why did they choose women with multiple yeast infections for the study? Why not choose women (or men) who fit the established symptoms of (intestinal) Candida? The funny thing is that I, while fitting Candida symptoms classicly enough to be in a textbook, would not have qualified for this study because I've only had one vaginal yeast infection in my life (from wearing nylons too many days in a row). Most women with vaginal yeast infections have no other symptoms, but I assume they chose women who had one or more symptoms from the list they gave (fatige, prementrual tension, gastrointestinal problems and depression--perhaps more if the list was edited for space). But did they see if there was a yeast connection? Did the women's symptoms get worse when they ate yeast? Did they even correlate severity of the symptoms with severity of the yeast infections? Did they test for presence of "too much" candida albicans in the intestines? Also, since they say antibiotic use and pregnancy are known triggers, does this mean their subjects had those factors themselves during the study? This brings in additional variables for symptom causes. When treating Candida, it's not enough to rely on Nystatin. It's extemely important also to treat with diet. I doubt these researchers did that. The Nystatin isn't very useful if the body is constantly getting new triggers to the problem. Also, from personal experience, Nystatin has to be taken very carefully. The article doesn't state the dosage; many doctors give too little. And if it isn't taken on a presise schedule (within an hour or two of the ideal schedule), it has side effects of intestinal cramping and headaches, enough to wipe out any perceived benefits. I took Nystatin for about a year, stopped for several months, then took it again for several more months. I haven't taken it for about 6 months now. My doctor (who was willing to try it though she was skeptical) insisted that I monitor my symptoms before starting the treatment and during. We found that my symptoms did lessen significantly (though they didn't go away) and I was less senstive to yeasts and molds while taking the Nystatin. The only other possiblility is a placbo effect, which I doubt but conceed is possible. Has anyone seen better reports of the study, or the study itself? If so, are my concerns still appropriate? What do others think? Has anyone tried Nystatin? How well did it work? Cyndi cnorman@ucsd.edu Send postings directly to me with a message stating you want it sent to the entire list (don't reply to the long list of names (unless you want to send mail to someone indivually) because I am adding names almost daily).