This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vargas, S L Articles by Hughes, W T Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vargas, S L Articles by Hughes, W T

Modulating effect of dietary carbohydrate supplementation on Candida albicans colonization and invasion in a neutropenic mouse model.

Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.

ABSTRACT

We studied the effect of dietary carbohydrate supplementation on Candida albicans colonization and invasion of the gastrointestinal tract in a neutropenic mouse model. Mice inoculated with C. albicans were allowed free access to standard chow and drinking water supplemented with either glucose or xylitol or no carbohydrates (control). On days 33 through 36 postinoculation, the mean +/- standard error log10 CFU of C. albicans per gram on the mucosal surface, determined by quantitating CFU dislodged in the first wash of the gastric wall, was significantly higher in mice given the glucose supplement: 7.20 +/- 0.09 (glucose) versus 5.38 +/- 0.28 (xylitol) and 5.11 +/- 0.33 (control) CFU/g (P < or = 0.05 for each comparison by Fisher's protected least-significant-difference test). Fecal cultures also yielded the highest quantities of C. albicans in the glucose group. Invasion of the gastric wall by C. albicans correlated well with surface colonization in glucose-supplemented animals. Eight of 10 mice in this group, all with > 10(6) CFU/g, showed extensive invasive growth, as compared with only 2 of 26 mice in the remaining groups (P = 0.00006 by Fisher's exact test). These results indicate that dietary glucose intake is a key determinant of C. albicans growth in the gastrointestinal tract. The data provide an experimental rationale for clinical trials to decrease the intake of glucose or its utilization by C. albicans in immunocompromised patients.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• ARNOLD, L. E. (2001). Alternative Treatments for Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 931: 310-341 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• BASSON, N.J. (2000). Competition for glucose between Candida albicans and oral bacteria grown in mixed culture in a chemostat. J Med Microbiol 49: 969-975 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Weig, M., Werner, E., Frosch, M., Kasper, H. (1999). Limited effect of refined carbohydrate dietary supplementation on colonization of the gastrointestinal tract of healthy subjects by Candida albicans. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 69: 1170-1173 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Arnold, L. E. (1999). Treatment alternatives for Attention-Deficit! Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). J Atten Disord 3: 30-48 [Abstract]