Re: ME is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

http://intelegen.com/viral_concerns_viral_care_formul.htm


VRP: And monolaurin—I see youve included 1,500 mg per serving. What is monolaurin, and why is it included in the formula?

Dr. Lieberman: Monolaurin is a short chain fatty acid (SFA) and an ester of lauric acid. Lauric acid was first identified as the most active antiviral and antibacterial substance found in human breast milk. Monolaurin is more biologically active than lauric acid, and works by a number of mechanisms to disrupt and inactivate viruses. First, lauric acid binds to the lipid-protein envelope that surrounds the virus. This, in turn, inhibits the replication cycle of the viruses by interrupting its ability to bind to the host cells. Lauric acid also prevents the uncoating, or shedding of the viral envelope that is required for replication and infection. Additionally, lauric acid directly disintegrates the viral envelope to make the virus more susceptible to host defenses.

VRP: And monolaurin has been shown to have antiviral effects as well?

Dr. Lieberman: Monolaurin has been shown to be active against influenzavirus, pneumovirus, paramyxovirus (Newcastle), morbillivirus (Rubeola), coronavirus, Herpes simplex I and II, CMV (cytomegalovirus), Epstein-Barr (EPV), and HIV, just to name a few. Some of the viruses monolaurin is not effective against include Polio, Coxsackie, Encephalomyocarditis, Rhinovirus and Rotavirus. In addition to its antiviral effects, monolaurin has also been shown to have antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Chlamydia, H. pylori, and against yeast and fungi as well, including Candida and ringworm.

VRP: Youve also included extracts of Phyllanthus amarus and Phyllanthus urinaria. Could you address these and explain their specific actions?

Dr. Lieberman: Phyllanthus species have traditionally been used to treat jaundice and other general conditions of liver disease. Researchers have shown that phyllanthus extracts exhibit significant antiviral activity, primarily by inhibiting viral DNA replication of hepadnaviruses, a viral family including the human hepatitis B virus and several animal hepatitis viruses.

When researchers systematically reviewed 22 randomized trials they found that phyllanthus significantly reduced hepatitis B antigens while normalizing liver enzymes. Phyllanthus extracts were also found to enhance the effects of interferon therapy, while outperforming interferon in normalizing ALT levels.

A recently published German study shows that phyllanthus extracts also act as potent anti-inflammatory agents. When rat cells and whole human blood were treated to simulate liver damage, phyllanthus was shown to suppress production and or secretion of a number of pro-inflammatory chemicals, including endotoxin-induced nitric oxide synthase (NOS), cyclooxygenase (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) as well as other cytokines. This anti-inflammatory effect is important for aiding the liver in recovery from viral-induced damage and preventing cirrhosis and potential liver cancer.

http://cpmedical.net/articles.aspx?ProdID=art6372&zTYPE=2


Glycyrrhizin (GL) is a conjugate of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) and glucuronic acid. Oral GL is metabolized in the intestine to GA and intravenous (IV) GL is metabolized into GA when excreted through the bile into the intestines. GL and GA exhibit similar properties and have been shown to be effective for Hepatitis A, B, C; HIV; herpes (I, II, zoster, perhaps 6); lichen planus, influenza, CMV and cancer. Personal experience and reports of effectiveness show it is effective against chronic fatigue immune deficiency syndrome (CFIDS) and the viruses associated with this condition (EBV, CMV), condyloma and other "viral" presentations.1-5

GL has antiviral activity by inhibiting some RNA transcriptases (e.g. HIV) and an indirect activity by decreasing cell membrane permeability (e.g. hepatocyte injury). It inactivates viruses and inhibits viral proliferation. GL is a powerful free radical scavenger and it increases gamma interferon, T cells and natural killer cells.
http://renewalenterprises.com/lauracidin.html

•Fatty acids and monoglycerides produce their killing/inactivating effects by several mechanisms. An early postulated mechanism was the perturbing of the plasma membrane lipid bilayer. The antiviral action attributed to monolaurin is that of fluidizing the structure in the envelope of the virus, causing the disintegration of the microbial membrane. More recent studies, indicate that one antimicrobial effect in bacteria is related to monolaurin's interference with signal transduction/toxin formation (Projan et al 1994). Another antimicrobial effect in viruses is due to lauric acid's interference with virus assembly and viral maturation (Hornung et al 1994). The third mode of action may be on the immune system itself (Witcher et al, 1993).


Antiviral Effects:
Hierholzer and Kabara (1982) first reported the antiviral activity of the monoglyceride of lauric acid (monolaurin) on viruses that affect humans.. They showed virucidal effects of monolaurin on enveloped RNA and DNA viruses. This work was done at the Center for Disease Control of the U.S. Public Health Service. This study was carried out using selected virus prototypes or recognized representative strains of enveloped human viruses. All these viruses have a lipid membrane. The presence of a lipid membrane on viruses makes them especially vulnerable to lauric acid and its derivative monolaurin. These initial findings from the Center of Disease Control (CDC) have been confirmed by many other investigators.


•Research has shown that enveloped viruses are inactivated by added fatty acids and monoglycerides in both human and bovine milk (Isaacs et al 199 1). Others (Isaacs et al 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992; Thormar et al 1987) have confirmed Kabara's original statements concerning the effectiveness of monolaurin.


•Some of the viruses inactivated by these lipids are the measles virus, herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and -2), herpes family members (HIV, hepatitis C, vesicular, stomatitis virus (VSV), visna virus, and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Many of the pathogenic organisms reported to be inactivated by these antimicrobial lipids are those know to be responsible for opportunistic infections in HIV -positive individuals. For example, concurrent infection with cytomegalovirus is recognized as a serious complication for HIV positive individuals (Macallan et al 1993).


•Thus, it would appear imperative to investigate the practical aspects and the potential benefit of a nutritional supplement such as monolaurin (Lauricidin®) for microbial infected individuals. Until now few nutritionists in mainstream nutrition community seem to have recognized the added benefit of antimicrobial lipids in the support of infected patients. These antimicrobial fatty acids and their derivatives are essentially nontoxic to man. According to the published research, lauric acid is one of the best "inactivating" fatty acids, and its monoglyceride is even more effective than the fatty acid alone (Kabara 1978, Sands et al 1978, Fletcher et al 1985, Kabara 1985).


•It should be emphasized that lauric acid cannot be taken orally because it is severally irritating. Lauricidin® on the other hand, a derivative of lauric acid chemically bonded to glycerin to form monolaurin, can be taken orally without any problem.


Antibacterial Effects:
The potentially pathogenic bacteria inactivated by monolaurin include Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Groups A, streptococci-gram-positive organisms, and some gram-negative organisms (Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Helicobacter pylori). Decreased growth of Staphylococcus aureus and decreased production of toxic shock syndrome toxin-l was shown with monolaurin (Holland et al 1994). Monolaurin was 5000 times more inhibitory against Listeria monocytogenes than ethanol (Oh & Marshall 1993). In vitro monolaurin rapidly inactivate Helicobacter pylori. Of greater significance there appears to be very little development of resistance of the organism to the bactericidal effects (Petschow et al 1996) of these natural antimicrobials.


•A number of fungi, yeast, and protozoa are also inactivated or killed by monolaurin. The fungi include several species of ringworm (Isaacs et al 1991). The yeast reported to be affected is Candida albicans (Isaacs et al 1991). The protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia is killed by monoglycerides from hydrolyzed human milk (Hemell et al 1986, Reiner et al 1986, Crouch et al 1991, Isaacs et al 1991). Chlamydia trachomatis is inactivated by monolaurin (Bergsson et al 1998). Hydrogels containing monocaprin/monolaurin are potent in vitro inactivators of sexually transmitted viruses such as HSV-2 and HIV-1 and bacteria such as Neisserian gonorrhea (Thormar 1999).


•Monolaurin does not appear to have an adverse effect on desirable gut bacteria, but rather on only potentially pathogenic microorganisms. For example, Isaacs et al (1991) reported no inactivation of the common Esherichiacoli or Salmonella enteritidis by monolaurin, but major inactivation of Hemophilus influenza, Staphylococcus epidermis and Group B gram positive streptococcus.
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