by Paul Fassa
Health Impact News
A bacterial pathogen that’s difficult to treat, which often breeds in hospitals, and also easily infects those using antibiotics or other pharmaceutical medications for gastrointestinal issues is Clostridium difficile (klos-TRID-e-um dif-uh-SEEL).
This pathogenic bacterium also goes by C. difficile or C. diff, or even just CDF.
A combination in vitro and in vivo study was performed by researchers in Taiwan during 2017 and published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology in January 2018 with the title Lauric Acid Is an Inhibitor of Clostridium difficile Growth in Vitro and Reduces Inflammation in a Mouse Infection Model. [1]
As we enter the age of antibiotic resistant bacteria, which are usually developed in hospitals, causing increased death by medicine (iatrogenic), an awareness of the medicinal aspects of coconut oil has arisen through anecdotal experiences and several independent studies indicating coconut oil could be a solution for failing pharmaceutical antibiotics.
CDF generally causes chronic diarrhea and cramping. But it can also create life-threatening inflammation of the colon, sometimes requiring surgical removal of the infected part of the colon. Patients with watery stools after a round or more of antibiotics or hospitalizations are often tested for CDF.
Because pharmaceutical antibiotics are often the source of inviting this bacterial strain into the gut, it’s very difficult to treat. (Source)
Recent Study Demonstrates Coconut Oil is Capable of Eliminating CDF Safely
The researchers noted in their full study text:
“As the primary FA [fatty acid] of coconut oil is lauric acid (45–53%), it is of great interest to utilize coconut oil as a source of lauric acid.”
The research report author(s) explained that CDF recurrence is common among those infected due to an inability for gut flora probiotic systems to re-establish themselves during or after antibiotic use.
The recurring infection rate can be as high as 60 percent. That, in addition to the CDF’s ability to create spores able to withstand antibiotics, motivated the researchers to test potential natural solutions.
In other words, Big Pharma’s efforts are failing. So we need to see if natural solutions may do the trick to avoid the irony of the cure causing the recurrence. Maybe a some MDs will notice it and not be afraid to recommend it.
This research study referenced some previous studies that determined the effect of coconut oil’s lauric acid to rid the gut of several bacterial pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which infects the skin initially but can subsequently infect the blood and become lethal while being immune to most pharmaceutical antibiotics.
Their in vitro phase allowed them to analyze and isolate the biochemical “mechanics” of lauric acid’s function with CDF, which is what research scientists love to do to make it “evidence-based real science.” The researchers concluded from their in vitro study:
“A comprehensive analysis demonstrated that lauric acid could inhibit biofilm formation and reduce spore outgrowth. Mechanistic studies revealed that the inhibition of C. difficile was partly due to the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and membrane damage.”
Note: This ROS activity is restrained to activity within the bacteria’s cell membrane walls without negatively affecting other cells with oxidation, making it an intelligent antibiotic instead of the chemo killing-all effects of antibiotics that kill off probiotic bacteria as well as pathogenic strains.
They observed with the animals (rats) in the vivo study:
“In a mouse infection model, lauric acid consumption decreased CDF-induced colon inflammation and diarrhea, supporting the hypothesis that lauric acid is a potential compound for CDF treatment.”
Note: Remember, the researchers mentioned coconut oil as the best source of lauric acid, which includes other beneficial medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). The complete study text is available here.
Testimonials and Studies: Coconut Oil for Bacteria, Viruses, and Fungi
One testimonial mentioned hepatitis C, a viral infection that could become lethal. This person suffered severely from the interferon drugs commonly prescribed for Hep-C.
Their switch to natural supplements including coconut oil produced a total cure without side effects.
Other testimonials provided to Coconutoil.com (part of the Health Impact News network) included statements of becoming free from colds and flu infections as well as bronchitis and chronic infections after consuming a couple of tablespoons or more of coconut oil daily.
Other testimonials were presented by individuals who had positive results from coconut oil who had Epstein-Barr virus, mononucleosis, and herpes, all without the side effects that expensive and less effective pharmaceutical drugs offer.
These testimonials and explanations of other coconut oil studies with references to the studies are available in this article:
Coconut Oil Offers Hope for Antibiotic-Resistant Germs
The information is available from several studies that usually don’t go to human trial phases because deep-pocket sources such as government agencies, who intend to maintain the status quo of mainstream pharmaceutical medicine and the pharmaceutical companies, who don’t want inexpensive competition, refuse to consider funding those studies.
They will attack whatever independent studies and anecdotal reports they notice, sometimes with science editorials, paid academic reports, or “Quack Watch” articles. If you wish to know more about coconut oil’s benefits from a reliable, and knowledgeable source, go to Coconutoil.com.
See Also:
Doctor Finds Coconut Oil Effective Against Helico Pylori Bacteria
Study: High Saturated Fat Diet with Coconut Oil Reduces Gut Bacteria in Crohn’s Disease
Source
[1] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2017.02635/full
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About the author: Unlike many people who write about coconut oil by simply reading about it, Brian Shilhavy actually lived in a coconut producing area of the Philippines for several years with his family, observing firsthand the differences between the diet and health of the younger generation and those of his wife’s parents’ generation still consuming a traditional diet. This led to years of studying Philippine nutrition and dietary patterns first hand while living in a rural farming community in the Philippines. Brian is the author of the best-selling book: Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours!
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