Candida and H. pylori

Struggling with Candida Albicans?

Don’t underestimate this infection…

Candidiasis or Candida Albicans is a nasty yeast infection and its sole purpose is to dominate your Digestive Tract, sometimes with dire results. Between 60 to 70% of people who are infected with H. pylori, also have Candida Albicans overgrowth, and most of them don’t even know it!

There may be interactions between H. pylori and Candida in the gastrointestinal tract. H. pylori infection can potentially create an environment that is more conducive to Candida overgrowth by changing the normal microbial flora and altering the pH balance in the stomach.

Unfortunately both H. pylori and Candida can effectively add to each other’s growth and colonization, as they are both known to cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.

What is Candida Albicans?

Candida is a type of yeast that is naturally present in small amounts in various parts of the body, such as the mouth, digestive tract, and vagina. Under normal circumstances, the body’s immune system and other microorganisms help keep Candida in check.

We all live in a virtual sea of micro-organisms, (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.). These microbes are as much a part of our bodies as the food we eat. Usually, these micro-organisms do not cause illness, but can do so when our immune system in compromised and resistance is lowered.

Candida Albicans is a yeast that lives in the mouth, throat, intestines, and genitourinary tract of most of us and is usually considered to be a normal part of the bowel flora (the organisms that coexist with us in our lower digestive tract). Candida is also classified as a fungi.

NOTE: The symptoms of Candida Albicans are very similar to the symptoms of other GI Tract disorders and can easily be mistaken for the symptoms of stomach ulcers and H.pylori infection.

How does Candida get into the body?

Candida Albicans enters our bodies as infants during or shortly after we are born. Usually, the growth of the yeast is kept in check by our immune system, but should your immune response weaken, the condition known as oral thrush can occur as a result.

By 6 months of age, 90% of all babies test positive for Candida. And by adulthood, virtually all of us play host to Candida Albicans and are thus engaged in a life-long relationship.

Candida coexists in our bodies with many species of bacteria in a competitive balance. Other bacteria act in part to keep Candida growth in check in our body ecology – unless that balance is upset.

When you enjoy good health, your immune system keeps Candida proliferation under control; but when your immune response is weakened, Candida growth can proceed unhindered.

Candida is an “opportunistic organism” – BEWARE if it gets out of control!

“The rapid and direct proliferation of the yeast following antibiotic use strongly suggests that the problem of Candida is one which stems from an inner state of imbalance, rather than from an outside attack by a microbe or disease.

Candida overgrowth can occur in various parts of the body, leading to different types of infections, including oral thrush, vaginal yeast infections, and skin infections.

The most common causes of Candida overgrowth

These are the most common causes of Candida overgrowth;

Antibiotic Use: this is a major contributor – see more about this below
Weakened Immune System: A weakened immune system (the causes are many) can ‘pave the way’ for Candida overgrowth and infections.
High blood sugar levels/Diabetes: can promote the growth of Candida.
Pregnancy: Hormonal changes during pregnancy provide a more favorable condition for Candida growth and vaginal yeast infections.
Uncontrolled Stress: Chronic stress weakens the immune system and disrupts microbial balance.
Dietary Factors: Candida thrives on sugars, so diets that are high in sugary foods, and/or processed foods and refined carbohydrates will provide an abundant food source for Candida, allowing it to multiply rapidly.
Alcohol consumption: Although alcohol does not convert directly into sugar in the body, but it can affect blood sugar levels that also provide fuel for Candida growth.
Inflammatory foods: These can also create an environment that promotes the growth of Candida.
Poor Hygiene: Not maintaining proper hygiene, such as not changing wet clothing promptly (e.g., swimsuits) or not practicing good oral hygiene, can create an environment where Candida can thrive.

Why Antibiotics cause Candida Overgrowth

High-dose antibiotic treatments like Triple therapy for H. pylori infections are known to contribute to the overgrowth of Candida albicans. Here’s why:

Disruption of Microbial Balance: Antibiotics are designed to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, including the beneficial ones that help maintain a healthy balance in the body. When these beneficial bacteria are reduced, it creates an opportunity for Candida to proliferate.
Altered pH Levels: The normal pH balance in various parts of the body, such as the gut and vagina, is maintained by a diverse microbial community. Antibiotics can disrupt this balance, creating a more favorable environment for the growth of Candida.
Immune System Impact: Antibiotics may also affect the immune system, weakening its ability to keep Candida in check. A compromised immune system is less effective at controlling the overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens like Candida.
Selective Killing of Bacteria: Antibiotics are often specific to certain types of bacteria. While they target the harmful bacteria causing an infection, they may also reduce the populations of beneficial bacteria that help control Candida.
Resistant Strains: In some cases, antibiotic use can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. While the targeted bacteria may become resistant, Candida and other opportunistic microbes may not be affected, leading to imbalances.

It’s important to note that while most people who take antibiotics will experience Candida overgrowth not everyone will. The risk of this varies among individuals.

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Bibliography & References

These are references for articles relating to the most common causes of Candida infections;

Muzny, C. A., & Schwebke, J. R. (2015). Biofilms: An underappreciated mechanism of treatment failure and recurrence in vaginal infections. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 61(4), 601-606.
Pappas, P. G., Kauffman, C. A., Andes, D., Clancy, C. J., Marr, K. A., Ostrosky-Zeichner, L., … & Sobel, J. D. (2016). Clinical practice guideline for the management of candidiasis: 2016 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 62(4), e1-e50.
Kullberg, B. J., & Arendrup, M. C. (2015). Invasive candidiasis. New England Journal of Medicine, 373(15), 1445-1456.
Pfaller, M. A., & Diekema, D. J. (2007). Epidemiology of invasive candidiasis: a persistent public health problem. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 20(1), 133-163.
Netea, M. G., Joosten, L. A., van der Meer, J. W., Kullberg, B. J., & van de Veerdonk, F. L. (2015). Immune defense against Candida fungal infections. Nature Reviews Immunology, 15(10), 630-642.
Eggimann, P., Garbino, J., & Pittet, D. (2003). Epidemiology of Candida species infections in critically ill non-immunosuppressed patients. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 3(11), 685-702.
Brown, G. D., Denning, D. W., Gow, N. A., Levitz, S. M., Netea, M. G., & White, T. C. (2012). Hidden killers: human fungal infections. Science Translational Medicine, 4(165), 165rv13.
Mayer, F. L., Wilson, D., & Hube, B. (2013). Candida albicans pathogenicity mechanisms. Virulence, 4(2), 119-128.