Candida Albicans Overgrowth hypothesis

Candida albicans overgrowth caused by antibiotics after an infection, inhibits the carbohydrate metabolism, activates the immune system, causing of illness and fatigue.

Theory
Candida albicans overgrowth could be caused by an antibiotic treatment after an infection. The candida albicans overgrowth in the stomach and bowel might be a root cause for reduced ability to convert glucose to cell energy, influenced by the amino acid tryptophan in the metabolism. This may activate the immune system, causing sense of illness and fatigue. Treatment of the candida albicans overgrowth is challenging and a specific diet is suggested for treatment during 3-4 months.

Evidence
Candida Albicans Overgrowth in the stomach and bowel might be a root cause for reduced ability to convert glucose to cell energy. This inability for ME/CFS patients to convert glucose to cell energy has been previously reported. It is also suggested that candida albicans overgrowth could be caused by an antibiotic treatment after an infection. In addition, it is also mentioned that the amino acid tryptophan could be inhibited by candida albicans overgrowth. . This may activate the immune system, causing sense of illness and fatigue. Treatment of the candida albicans overgrowth using probiotics or antimycotics was not effective, and a specific diet (low carbohydrate, fat rich etc.) was suggested for treatment during 3-4 months. .

Published Studies

 * 2013, Tryptophan Catabolites from Microbiota Engage Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Balance Mucosal Reactivity via Interleukin-22 (Zelante et al)
 * 2014, Microbiota control of a tryptophan-AhR pathway in disease tolerance to fungi (Romani et al)
 * 2016, Metabolic profiling indicates impaired pyruvate dehydrogenase function in myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome (Fluge et al)
 * 2018, Microbial tryptophan catabolites in health and disease (Roager and Licht)

Talks & Interviews

 * Nov 2018, IBS, fibromyalgia and ME: Symptoms, patogenesis and treatment (14 Nov 2018. Professor Arnold Berstad present recent studies hypothesising candida albicans overgrowth at a seminar at the Oslo University Hospital organized by the Norwegian ME Association)