Candida albicans
Also known as: C. albicans, Candida albicans
Overview
Candida albicans is a diploid fungus commonly found as a commensal organism in the human microbiota, particularly in the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and vaginal mucosa. It is an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing infections under immunocompromised conditions. C. albicans itself is not used as a supplement ingredient; rather, it is studied primarily as a pathogen responsible for candidiasis and related infections. Some research explores its role in disease states such as early childhood caries and prosthetic joint infections. It can switch between yeast and hyphal forms, contributing to its virulence. It is susceptible to major antifungal drug classes but can develop resistance. Extensive research exists on its pathogenicity, antifungal susceptibility, and clinical outcomes of infections. High-quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses are available, especially concerning its clinical impact and antifungal treatment efficacy.
Benefits
Candida albicans is not a beneficial supplement ingredient; it is primarily studied for its pathogenic effects. Some studies link C. albicans colonization with early childhood caries, indicating a role in disease rather than health benefits. Immunocompromised individuals and patients with prosthetic devices are at higher risk of C. albicans infections. Systematic reviews show a significant association between C. albicans presence and disease states like early childhood caries and prosthetic joint infections, with clinical outcomes influenced by antifungal treatment regimens.
How it works
C. albicans causes infection through adhesion to host tissues, biofilm formation, and morphological switching (yeast to hyphae), which facilitates tissue invasion and immune evasion. It primarily affects mucosal surfaces and can invade deeper tissues in immunocompromised hosts, leading to systemic candidiasis. Antifungal drugs target ergosterol synthesis (azoles), cell wall synthesis (echinocandins), and nucleic acid synthesis (5-flucytosine).
Side effects
C. albicans is a pathogen, not a supplement; colonization can be harmless in healthy individuals but can cause infections in susceptible populations. Infections can cause oral thrush, vaginal candidiasis, and systemic candidiasis with symptoms ranging from mild mucosal irritation to life-threatening systemic infection. Uncommon side effects include prosthetic joint infections and bloodstream infections in hospitalized or immunocompromised patients. Rare side effects include disseminated candidiasis with multi-organ involvement. Antifungal drugs used to treat C. albicans infections have known interactions with other medications, but C. albicans itself does not cause drug interactions. Immunocompromised patients, neonates, and those with prosthetic devices are at higher risk of severe infection.
Dosage
Not applicable; C. albicans is not administered as a supplement or drug.
FAQs
Is Candida albicans a beneficial supplement ingredient?
No, it is primarily a fungal pathogen studied for its role in infections.
Can C. albicans be used therapeutically?
No, it is treated with antifungal agents rather than used as a therapy.
What are the risks of C. albicans colonization?
It can lead to opportunistic infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals or those with prosthetic implants.
How is C. albicans infection treated?
With antifungal drugs such as azoles, amphotericin B, and echinocandins; treatment success varies by infection site and regimen.
Research Sources
- https://academic.oup.com/mmy/article/62/6/myae045/7700346 – This systematic review on antifungal susceptibility indicates that C. albicans remains mostly susceptible to major antifungal classes, supporting current treatment protocols. The review is limited to susceptibility data and does not primarily focus on clinical outcomes, but it is a high-quality and recent assessment.
- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0237046 – This study investigates the relationship between Candida species and oral health parameters in children with mixed dentition. It identifies Candida albicans as the most prevalent species and suggests a potential association with dental caries, although the cross-sectional design limits the ability to infer causality.
- https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Supplementary_Material_for_Candida_albicans_and_Early_Childhood_Caries_A_Systematic_Review_and_Meta-Analysis/5727018 – This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the prevalence of C. albicans in children with early childhood caries. The findings suggest a higher prevalence of C. albicans in children with early childhood caries, indicating a pathogenic role, but the cross-sectional design limits causality inference. The study is of moderate quality with consistent findings across studies.
- https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/12/6/ofaf281/8131581 – This systematic review and meta-analysis focuses on Candida prosthetic joint infections, analyzing 385 cases. The study found that Amphotericin B-based initial therapy was associated with higher treatment success, and prosthesis removal was critical for outcome. The data is retrospective, and there is heterogeneity in treatment regimens, but the study is of high quality with clinically relevant outcomes.
