Walaa MR El-Meidany1*, Dalia I Tayel1, Marwa S Abd El-Maksoud2, Ebtisam M Fetoh3, Fikrat AF El-Sahn1
1Nutrition Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt. 2Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt. 3Department of Health administration and Behavioural Sciences, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
*Correspondence Email Address: [email protected] & [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Background: One of the health problems that face children with autism spectrum disorder is the heavy growth of fungus genus Candida in their intestine to be more than double in the autistic cases than other neurotypical individuals. The use of virgin coconut oil showed an antimicrobial effect against Candida species colonization in the gut of mice compared to a broad spectrum antifungal drug. The fact that fatty acids found in the VCO help to disrupt the wall of the Candida thus, control its overgrowth. Aim of the study: The study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with virgin coconut oil (VCO) on the Candida overgrowth among children with autism spectrum disorder. Methods: Quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study including 61 children of age group less than 18 years from both sexes. Results: Dietary supplementation with VCO caused a significant decline in the Candida count in the gut of the studied ASD children assessed by stool culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Conclusion: VCO supplementation is highly effective against intestinal Candida infection among ASD children. Recommendation: Using virgin coconut oil as a safe and natural antifungal treatment for Candida infection in the gut of ASD children.
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Candida overgrowth, Children, Virgin Coconut Oil
Citation: El-Meidany WMR, Tayel DI, Abd El-Maksoud MS, Fetoh EM, El-Sahn FAF. Inhibition of the Intestinal Candida Overgrowth among Autistic Children After the Virgin Coconut Oil Intake. Canadian Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2022; 10 (1): 29-37.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.14206/canad.j.clin.nutr.2022.01.05
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