Evidence supporting the use of: Lauric acid
For the health condition: Thrush

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid abundant in coconut oil and breast milk, has been investigated for its antifungal properties, particularly against Candida albicans, the predominant cause of oral thrush. Several in vitro studies have demonstrated that lauric acid and its derivative, monolaurin, can disrupt the cell membranes of Candida species, leading to inhibited growth or cell death. For example, research published in journals such as Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy and Journal of Medicinal Food has shown that lauric acid exhibits fungistatic and fungicidal activity at certain concentrations.

Despite these promising laboratory findings, clinical evidence in humans is limited. There are currently no large, well-controlled clinical trials demonstrating that lauric acid supplementation, either as a topical treatment or oral supplement, effectively treats or prevents thrush in humans. Most of the support for its use comes from laboratory (in vitro) studies and anecdotal reports. Its presence in breast milk, which protects infants against various pathogens, lends some biological plausibility to its use against Candida, but direct clinical outcomes data are lacking.

In summary, while there is a scientific rationale and preliminary evidence for the use of lauric acid against thrush, robust clinical validation is lacking. Thus, its use is best described as having some scientific basis, but with limited evidence, meriting a rating of 2/5.

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