Threelac - treatment for Candida infection

[Capsid]

Does anyone know anything about this probiotic?

Threelac

My niece who is 12 years old has been told to take it by a UK chiropracter since she has been tested and found to be a "high" positive for Candida (but then 80% of the population are positive anway)

I can find no proper scientific studies to show its efficacy only the usual anecdotal testimonials from alt med websites. I couldn't find it on quackwatch.

Do probiotics have an antifungal effect, if so how does this work systemically?

I think it's a woo product but am interested to know if anyone else has information.

[JJM]

Originally Posted by Capsid

Does anyone know anything about this probiotic?

My niece who is 12 years old has been told to take it by a UK chiropracter since she has been tested and found to be a "high" positive for Candida (but then 80% of the population are positive anway)

I can find no proper scientific studies to show its efficacy only the usual anecdotal testimonials from alt med websites. I couldn't find it on quackwatch.

Do probiotics have an antifungal effect, if so how does this work systemically?

I think it's a woo product but am interested to know if anyone else has information.

First, chiros are not qualified to diagnose or prescribe; furthermore, no twelve-year-old should ever see a chiro (except on advice from a rational pediatrician).

Moreover, candidiasis is a favorite quack diagnosis. Quackwatch has many articles on the subject. If you don't get any results searching on that term, PM me.

[Capsid]

Originally Posted by JJM

First, chiros are not qualified to diagnose or prescribe; furthermore, no twelve-year-old should ever see a chiro (except on advice from a rational pediatrician).

Moreover, candidiasis is a favorite quack diagnosis. Quackwatch has many articles on the subject. If you don't get any results searching on that term, PM me.

Thanks for your quick response. Threelac is not a prescription medicine so I think it was just sold to her by the chiro.

Unfortunately, quackwatch does not have anything about Threelac.

[Katana]

Well, Google Scholar and OVID searches proved fruitless.

I found a website the suggests that threelac is capsules of live bacteria that you ingest orally. Once in the intestines, they then act to "balance the body's pH" and "eat" the candida. This, they claim, can treat vaginal yeast infections, too.

In fact, they go on to say:

Quote:

Thus Threelac destroys the candida,albicans and everything.

Wow. Who could argue with that?

As expected, there is no research to back up their claims nor do they discuss the risk of eliminating too much yeast. They only have testimonials. I wouldn't support the use of this product given these somewhat absurd claims.

Link

I'm also wondering on what basis a chiropracter determined that a 12-year-old girl was "high" positive in yeast. Do you know what he/she tested and how?

[JJM]

Originally Posted by Capsid

Thanks for your quick response. Threelac is not a prescription medicine so I think it was just sold to her by the chiro.

Unfortunately, quackwatch does not have anything about Threelac.

Sure.

At quackwatch you should see that candidiasis is a dubious diagnosis. If the girl has a real problem, she should see a medical professional. And, if recommending an OTC substance is legally not "prescribing" (you may be right), it serves the same purpose- the chiro is not qualified. If the chiro is selling the stuff, it makes it worse. Medical doctors cannot sell remedies because of the conflict of interest.

[Capsid]

Originally Posted by Katana

I'm also wondering on what basis a chiropracter determined that a 12-year-old girl was "high" positive in yeast. Do you know what he/she tested and how?

I'm afraid I haven't got the full details yet. At least the chiro did not make the diagnosis, so she may have been tested originally by her GP. Her presenting symptoms were severe headaches and GI problems. Would this precipitate a Candida test?

[Katana]

Originally Posted by Capsid

I'm afraid I haven't got the full details yet. At least the chiro did not make the diagnosis, so she may have been tested originally by her GP. Her presenting symptoms were severe headaches and GI problems. Would this precipitate a Candida test?

"GI problems" is really broad. Do you have any other info? For most complaints, Candida would not be among the first things to rule out. That would be different if she had a compromised immune system and symptoms to suggest something like fungal esophagitis.

Severe headaches and GI problems could be so many things in a 12-year-old, but Candidiasis isn't what first comes to mind.

[Physiotherapist]

What you are looking at might be a brand name for the generic term Acidophilus. There is in fact some research around that states that it can be effective in certain cases.

Not quite the same, but I have used it several times to help clear stomach bugs/upsets. I came back from travelling on one occasion and was very unwell. I went to see a doctor on my return and he was all ready to give me some Cipro., but I decided to take the Acidophilus instead. No recurring problems either.

It is possible to be diagnosed with cases of systemic candida. Medics do seem to be more aware of it now, so it is not just a quack diagnosis. It depends who you go to though.

[Katana]

Since this seems to be where things are leading...

From Cohen & Powderly: Infectious Diseases, 2nd ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby.

Quote:

'Candida hypersensitivity syndrome'

For many years, C. albicans has been mentioned as the cause of a chronic syndrome called Candida hypersensitivity syndrome, also known as chronic candidiasis, Candida-related complex and 'the yeast connection'.[19] Symptoms include general malaise, fatigue and non-specific gastrointestinal, genitourinary and neuropsychiatric complaints. The syndrome is said to be caused by intestinal and vaginal fungal overgrowth, inflammation, production of fungal toxins and invasion of mucous membranes. Therapy usually consists of a rigorous 'yeast elimination' diet and long-term antifungal treatment.

In an effort to characterize the disease, 100 individuals who had chronic fatigue syndrome were evaluated, including eight who had been given a diagnosis of 'yeast connection'. No differences in laboratory or physical findings, including candidal skin testing, could be detected between patients and control subjects.[20] A prospective randomized clinical trial comparing nystatin treatment with placebo failed to show an improvement in the systemic complaints[21] and analysis of the diet demonstrated nutritional imbalances that could lead to the development of nutritional deficiencies if the diet were followed over a prolonged period of time. The American Academy of Allergy and Immunology reviewed the literature and concluded that the Candida hypersensitivity syndrome is 'speculative and unproven'.[22]

Look! Even Dr. Weil thinks it's woo:

Quote:

Q Concerned About Candidiasis?
I am a physician assistant and have a patient who is asking about "candida intolerance"? as a cause of stomach ailments, fatigue, weight problems, etc. I haven't heard of this and cannot find any good literature regarding it. Any ideas?

A Answer (Published 10/25/2002)

Your patient has bought into the scientifically unfounded notion that Candida albicans, a species of yeast that normally lives harmlessly in the gastrointestinal tract and vagina, can routinely become a serious systemic infection responsible for a host of ailments. Systemic candidiasis is said to cause fatigue, depression, anxiety, skin eruptions, and immune system malfunction.

In fact, Candida albicans, sometimes can get out of control, causing vaginal infections, intestinal upsets, or infections of the mouth and throat (called thrush). In most cases, this is the result of prolonged or frequent use of antibiotics, which can wipe out the "friendly" bacteria that normally keep yeast in check. Other drugs that can wipe out intestinal flora or encourage overgrowth of yeast are steroids and estrogen, either in the form of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy.

A book called "The Yeast Connection" by Dr. William Crook popularized the hypothesis that Candida is a major pathogen that can weaken the immune system, allowing other infections to occur. Dr. Crook also contends that toxins produced by Candida could contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders.

There is little hard evidence for these ideas. Diagnoses of systemic candidiasis usually have no scientific basis, and most of the recommended treatments for it waste time and money. Anyone with yeast growing in the blood or vital organs would be critically ill in an intensive care unit. Despite this medical reality, systemic candidiasis remains a popular diagnosis in some segments of the alternative medicine community. My belief is that its persistence is an example of our fears of foreign invaders; it satisfies a need to blame our maladies on an external cause.

Most of the treatments used for this "disease" are harmless except for drugs like ketoconazole (Nizoral) and fluconazole (Diflucan) which can be toxic to the liver and should not be used except on the advice of an infectious disease specialist. A study reported a few years ago in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the more commonly used drug nystatin (Mycostatin) was no more effective than a placebo in treating people who thought they had systemic candidiasis.

My colleague and naturopathic physician, Judy Hutt, NMD, points out that although systemic candidiasis is an unfounded diagnosis, one should not ignore chronic gas and bloating and other refractory gastrointestinal complaints that develop after taking large doses of antibiotics or steroids. In addition to oral or topical antifungal treatments, other natural therapeutic options include taking a good acidophilus product (such as Lactobacillus GG) to help restore normal gut flora, cutting back on refined sugars, avoiding dairy products, and eating one clove of garlic per day, preferably raw.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA125503

Systemic candidiasis: a life-threatening condition usually requiring an ICU admission and various forms of life support.

[Dragonrock]

We don't have much problem with Canadian infection down here in Texas. I always figured Canadians were a northern problem.

[Katana]

Originally Posted by Dragonrock

We don't have much problem with Canadian infection down here in Texas. I always figured Canadians were a northern problem.

[JJM]

Originally Posted by Physiotherapist

Not quite the same, but I have used it several times to help clear stomach bugs/upsets.

Quack remedies are best when it comes to treating treating self-limiting conditions like that. And that is why anecdote is unacceptable.

Originally Posted by Physiotherapist

It is possible to be diagnosed with cases of systemic candida.

Systemic candida infection is a well-recognized, life-threatening illness that requires emergency, intensive care in the hospital. (I see Katana has weighed in while I compose this.)

Originally Posted by Physiotherapist

Medics do seem to be more aware of it now, so it is not just a quack diagnosis. It depends who you go to though.

Candidiasis can be a problem, that's what makes it sound so real when quacks diagnose it. (And that is why it depends on who you go to.)

To go back to Capsid, if a GP made the diagnosis, the GP's advice trumps any chiro's notions.

[Katana]

By the way, welcome, JJM.

Are you by any chance the same JJM waging a fruitless but well-worded appeal to reason in the Skeptics Society thread on chronic fatigue syndrome?

If so, I even more enthusiastically welcome you!

[Capsid]

Thanks for your input everyone. I don't have much more information at the moment. I've only found out today. It seems that the the proper medical treatment was pain management (for the headaches) which I can appreciate would be frustrating and I presume led to searching for other treatments.

Katana's quote from Dr Weil intrigued me.

Quote:

In most cases, this is the result of prolonged or frequent use of antibiotics, which can wipe out the "friendly" bacteria that normally keep yeast in check.

That indicates that probiotics may keep yeast in check which in turn gives some credence to the use of Threelac for Candida infections. What's the evidence for that?

[Capsid]

Double post!

[Katana]

Originally Posted by Capsid

That indicates that probiotics may keep yeast in check which in turn gives some credence to the use of Threelac for Candida infections. What's the evidence for that?

Except who demonstrated a depletion in your niece's normal flora and an over-growth of yeast? Has she received antibiotics for any reason?

Also, there is nothing to support the contention by Threelac's makers that their "encapsulated, live bacteria" is anything of the sort or that this type of administration leads to repletion of the normal gut flora. How do you know that it actually contains what they say it does or that it has any bioavailability, if you will? They have done no studies to back up their claims.

[Capsid]

Originally Posted by Katana

Except who demonstrated a depletion in your niece's normal flora and an over-growth of yeast? Has she received antibiotics for any reason?

Don't know. I need to find out more about this.

Quote:

Also, there is nothing to support the contention by Threelac's makers that their "encapsulated, live bacteria" is anything of the sort or that this type of administration leads to repletion of the normal gut flora. How do you know that it actually contains what they say it does or that it has any bioavailability, if you will? They have done no studies to back up their claims.

Agreed, I'm not convinced.

[luchog]

Originally Posted by Dragonrock

We don't have much problem with Canadian infection down here in Texas. I always figured Canadians were a northern problem.

Yup. We have to spray for them regularly. Them and apple maggots.

Whenever I'm on major antibiotics (chronic sinus infection, among other things), my doc always recommends acidopholus as a prophylactic against yeast infection. Never heard of it as a treatment, however.

[Physiotherapist]

Acidophilus is not a quack remedy. It contains gut bacteria and there is evidence around to suggest that it is actually helpful.

JJM,

This shows that you have not read my post properly and just jumped to a conclusion that suits you. I know it is anecdotal evidence, but there is other evidence around that suggests that Acidophilus has uses.

[Capsid]

Originally Posted by Physiotherapist

Acidophilus is not a quack remedy. It contains gut bacteria and there is evidence around to suggest that it is actually helpful.

JJM,

This shows that you have not read my post properly and just jumped to a conclusion that suits you. I know it is anecdotal evidence, but there is other evidence around that suggests that Acidophilus has uses.

Do you have any links please? Specifically how it might help with yeast infections.

[Capsid]

Interesting outcome. After I ranted to my brother about this, his daughter went to have some proper tests done. She was found to have an underactive thyroid gland and will most likely have to take thyroxine for the rest of her life.

What annoys me about all this is the alt med practitioners would have no way of coming to this conclusion and would have continued to prescribe quack remedies to the long term detriment of my niece's health.

[JJM]

Originally Posted by Capsid

Interesting outcome. After I ranted to my brother about this, his daughter went to have some proper tests done. She was found to have an underactive thyroid gland and will most likely have to take thyroxine for the rest of her life. ...

Thanks for telling us! I am happy she got proper attention, and I think I speak for everyone in wishing her well.