1-602-995-1580
By Dr. Paul C. Eck
and
Dr. Larry Wilson
Recently numerous articles have appeared in both medical and nutritional journals
concerning overgrowth of Candida Albicans as a cause of allergies, fatigue, digestive problems,
emotional problems, and numerous other complaints. Candida was discovered over 100 years
ago. Why is it becoming such a major problem today?
Some of the numerous reasons for candidiasis overgrowth are well known. Antibiotic
therapy, especially long-term, is associated with Candidiasis. Astonishing amounts of antibiotics
fed to livestock assure that all of us are ingesting some antibiotic residues, unless we procure
antibiotic-free meat.
There is also a known connection between candida overgrowth, use of the birth control pill
and therapy with steroid hormones.
However, many questions remain unanswered.
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Why are some people more prone to Candida infection than others? |
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Why must Nystatin and anti-fungal regimes be continued for several years or longer? |
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Why is there often a recurrence of candida overgrowth when the diet or medication is stopped? |
This article is a report on research conducted by Analytical Research Labs based upon
tissue mineral analysis performed on several hundred candidiasis patients. A number of metabolic
imbalances were revealed that yield insight into underlying metabolic factors responsible for
candidiasis.
inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) in
unwashed hair samples.
A number of metabolic factors influence the body's ability to directly or indirectly control
Candida Albicans overgrowth. While certain of these factors overlap, a separate presentation will
lend more clarity to the multiplicity of factors involved.
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Bio-unavailability of copper. Copper has a fungicidal value in the body's tissues. Copper compounds are used commercially as sprays on vegetables, as algicides in swimming pools, etc. |
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Zinc deficiency. Zinc is an essential mineral nutrient related to copper metabolism and is necessary for the synthesis of all body proteins. |
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Inadequate biochemical energy production. Biochemical energy is required for all body functions, including immune system function, and all other body systems. |
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Excessive alkalinity of the digestive tract. An alkaline environment of the intestinal tract favors yeast growth. |
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Excessive systemic alkalinity of body tissues. May permit candida to thrive in other body tissues. |
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Impaired short-chain fatty Acid metabolism. Short-chain fatty acids have fungicidal properties. Caprylic and butyric acid are frequently used as anti-candida agents. A healthy body synthesizes appropriate protective fatty acid compounds. |
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Immune System Incompetence. Yeast infections are far more common in immune-suppressed patients. |
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Impaired Carbohydrate Metabolism. Impaired carbohydrate metabolism (hypoglycemia, dysinsulinism and diabetes) is intimately associated with candidiasis overgrowth. |
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Stress. Psychological stress impairs immune system function. |
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Other Nutrient Imbalances. Tissue mineral testing can identify other metabolic imbalances. Through tissue mineral testing, these metabolic factors can be monitored and corrected, resulting in an individualized and more effective approach to candidiasis. |
The most commonly observed mineral imbalance we find in many patients with Candida
infection is termed bio-unavailable copper.
Bio-unavailable copper is indicated on a tissue mineral test by a copper level above 3.0
mg/% or below 1.0 mgs/%. Other mineral indicators of a candida overgrowth are an elevated
calcium level, elevated calcium/magnesium ratio, (greater than 10/1) or a low sodium/potassium
ratio (less than 2.3/1).
Bio-unavailability means there is an excess of copper stored in various tissues and organs.
While in excess, it is not able to be accessed.
When copper is bio-unavailable, it cannot serve its normal function as a fungicide. Copper is
involved in enzymes in cellular oxidative (aerobic) metabolism, and this appears to be the reason
for its anti-fungal action.
The causes of copper bio-unavailability are several, however the principal one is adrenal
gland insufficiency, exhaustion or burnout. Inadequate secretion of adrenal glucocorticoid
hormones prevents adequate synthesis of the major copper-binding protein, ceruloplasmin.
Adrenal exhaustion results from stress, which results in a depletion of various nutrients such
as manganese, zinc, vitamin C, pantothenic acid, vitamin E, vitamin A, etc., which are vital for
optimal adrenal gland activity.
Depletion of nutrients occurs due to:
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antibiotics and other medications which deplete copper reserves, |
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inadequate diet, |
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increased demand for nutrients due to stress, air pollution, illness, toxic metals, etc., |
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poor absorption and/or utilization of nutrients due to food sensitivity, inadequate digestive function, etc. |
Zinc metabolism is closely related to Candida because 1) the zinc/copper balance is critical,
and 2) zinc is required for many essential enzyme systems, including production of digestive
enzymes and synthesis of all body proteins.
A zinc imbalance is indicated on a tissue mineral chart by a zinc level less than 12.0 mgs/%
or greater than 20.0 mgs/%, or a zinc/copper ratio greater than 12.0 mgs/%. A phosphorus level
greater than 16 or less than 12 may also indicate a zinc imbalance.
Deficiency of zinc is common for several reasons:
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Use of superphosphate fertilizers and hybrid crops have contributed to widespread zinc deficiency in all foods. |
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Processing and refining further depletes foods of their zinc content. For example, zinc loss occurs in the conversion of whole wheat to white flour, in the conversion of sugar cane to white sugar, and in spraying of frozen and canned vegetables with EDTA to retain color. |
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Foods, relatively low in zinc, such as chicken and fish are being increasingly substituted for higher-zinc foods such as beef and red meats. Soy protein, commonly substituted for beef, is low in zinc. |
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Stress of any type results in zinc depletion. |
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Zinc deficiency is accentuated if copper exposure is high, because of a copper-zinc antagonism. Copper exposure is higher today for several reasons: |
Hair analysis research indicates that the great majority, if not all, Candida patients have
severely impaired production of biochemical energy.
Such impaired energy production is indicated on the tissue mineral chart by:
Individuals with candida overgrowth frequently have impaired digestive enzyme production.
This is indicated on the tissue mineral test by low sodium and potassium levels relative to
calcium and magnesium levels, or a sodium-to-potassium ratio less than 2.3/1. Sodium and
potassium are required in optimal amounts for production of hydrochloric acid in the parietal cells
of the stomach. HCL production is impaired when tissue levels of these minerals are low.
A low sodium/potassium ratio is associated with a liver dysfunction, often accompanied by
an inadequate secretion of bile acids. Bile acids also aid in maintaining intestinal pH and keep
yeast organisms in check.
Insufficient hydrochloric acid and bile acid levels result in an increase alkalinity of the
intestines, which in turn favors yeast overgrowth. Adequate levels of hydrochloric acid also help
maintain proper intestinal flora by maintaining intestinal pH.
Excessive systemic alkalinity is present in many Candida Albicans patients. Increased
systemic alkalinity favors the spreading of the yeast infection from the intestines to other body
tissues.
These individuals exhibit a mineral pattern referred to as slow oxidation, and/or a
sodium/potassium ratio less than 2.3:1, which is indicative of adrenal burnout.
A slow oxidation pattern reflects both an underactive thyroid and adrenal gland activity,
which causes alkalinity due to decreased production of acid metabolic end-products. These
individuals also usually have a high tissue calcium level and rapidly convert lactic acid to the
alkaline compound calcium lactate.
A low sodium/potassium ratio also reflects a state of protein breakdown, and in this process
potassium is released from cells, leading to an increased alkaline condition.
Correction of the sodium/potassium ratio is essential to eliminate yeast problems, because
this is indicative of adrenal insufficiency, induced hyper-alkalinity, an impaired immune system,
and deficient hydrochloric acid and bile acid secretion.
The success of caprylic acid products in controlling intestinal yeast indicates another
nutritional problem area for many individuals. Many people today suffer from poor fat digestion
and utilization. This is related to a deficiency of digestive enzymes, but may also be adversely
influenced by an inadequate diet, and inadequate fat metabolism. The underlying causes must go
back to impaired liver function, low energy production, deficiency of essential minerals and
disabling of critical enzymes due to toxic metals, etc.
Candida has been related to AIDS and other immune deficiency diseases. We frequently
note that candida patients exhibit certain mineral patterns similar to immune incompetence. These
patterns are a sodium/potassium ratio less than 2.3:1, copper level less than 1.0 mgs/% or greater
than 10.0 mgs/%, or a calcium/magnesium ratio greater than 12:1 or less than 3.3:1 mgs/%.
Nutrition programs aimed at correcting the immune system will usually have very beneficial
effects on Candida patients.
While we are led to believe that the carbohydrate intolerance demonstrated by the Candida
patient is due to the yeast acting upon sugars in the diet, it is also conceivable that the body's
inability to properly metabolize sugars and starches contributes to yeast overgrowth.
high or low levels or manganese, zinc, potassium and chromium. A calcium/magnesium ratio
above 8.5:1 mgs/% or below 4.5:1 mgs/% is also indicative of glucose tolerance problems.
Psychological stress has deleterious effects upon the immune system, the digestive system,
glucose metabolism, and copper and zinc metabolism.
Stress causes rapid depletion of zinc, pathological accumulation and bio-unavailability of
copper, resulting in a severe derangement of glucose metabolism as well.
While this is a large area of research, toxic metals are known to interfere with hundreds of
physiological functions. Mercury is known to impair immune system function. Cadmium displaces
zinc in over 70 enzyme systems: lead by impairing calcium metabolism, diminishes insulin
secretion resulting in impaired glucose metabolism which favors candida overgrowth.
To conclude, hair analysis, when correctly performed and interpreted, yields insights into a
number of possible mechanisms of Candida Albicans infection. These include copper
bio-unavailability, zinc deficiency, inefficient biochemical energy production, hyper-alkalinity of
the digestive tract and systemic alkalinity, impaired fatty acid metabolism, impaired immune
response, impaired carbohydrate metabolism, toxic metal poisoning and deficiency of various
trace elements.
Use of tissue mineral analysis to uncover these metabolic imbalances can produce a more
rapid and complete recovery from a yeast infection.
The preceding statements have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Copyright © 1987 - The Eck Institute of Applied Nutrition and Bioenergetics, Ltd.
