Salt Good/Sugar Bad -- Part 2: Parasites and Candida Yeast

ELIMINATING PARASITIC INFESTATION: A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW

SALT GOOD:

The 2020 study Inactivation of Toxoplasma gondii Bradyzoites after Salt Exposure during Preparation of Dry-Cured Hams stated "the consumption of raw or undercooked infected meat, including pork, that contains infectious stages of T. gondii has been regarded as a major route of T. gondii transmission to humans." Infected pork hams were salted and cured for 33 days and then were dried for up to 12 months. Results showed that T. gondii bradyzoites were inactivated during the salting and curing step and no t. gondii were detected in the mice studied over the 12 months of the experiment. 

The 2022 study Opportunity or Catastrophe? Effect of Sea Salt on Host-Parasite Survival and Reproduction states: "In this study, we quantify the effects of sea salt concentration on the model host-parasite system, Biomphalaria alexandrina and Schistosoma mansoni. We demonstrate a significant, negative relationship between sea salt concentration and host survival, host reproduction, and parasite success. The increase in freshwater salinity associated with sea level rise has the potential to decrease parasite transmission and disease burden in humans and wildlife."

The 2019 study The Effectiveness of Sodium Chloride and Formalin in Trichodiniasis of Farmed Freshwater Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus in Southeastern Mexico states: "The effectiveness of treatment with sodium chloride and formaldehyde was evaluated for controlling infection caused by these parasites in tilapia Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus in aquaculture facilities in southeastern Mexico. A total of 240 fish were examined. The results showed that all doses using sodium were effective for controlling trichodinids and eliminated the parasites (100%) however, fish exposed to doses of formalin showed a higher level of stress than those exposed to sodium chloride." 

The 2013 study Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of 1% Sodium Chloride (LiceFreee Spray) against 1% Permethrin Creme Rinse on Head Lice Infested Individuals found "Sodium Chloride spray had superior efficacy to 1% Permethrin Creme Rinse in treating head lice and is a safe and excellent alternative to the current recommended treatment."

The 2013 study Effects of pH, sodium chloride, and curing salt on the infectivity of Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts found: "Cysts were very sensitive to salt. Muscle cysts survived at an NaCl concentration of up to 2.0% only, and for no longer than 8 days. At NaCl concentrations of 2.5 and 3.0%, the cysts lost their infectivity after 1 day," concluding: "Sausages produced with low NaCl concentration and short contact times pose a potential risk for susceptible individuals." Meaning those more prone to parasitic infection, including immunocompromised individuals, such as diabetics.

The 2021 study Effect of Mixture of Sodium Chloride and Potassium Lactate on the Viability of Toxoplasma Gondii in Meat determined "a mixture of 2% sodium chloride and 1.4% potassium lactate was able to deactivate T. gondii cyst in sheep meat after 8 hours of exposure, while low concentration (1% of both mixture components) has no effect."

The 2001 study In vitro Effects of Sodium Chloride and Calcium Carbonate on the Development and Survival of Haemonchus Contortus concluded that: "NaCl and CaCO3 solutions delayed hatching and development of eggs of H. contortus at lower concentrations and proved lethal at higher (>5-10%) concentrations."

The 2010 study Effect of Sodium Chloride Solution on the Oviposition Capacity of Engorged Adult Females and Hatchability of Eggs of Dog Ticks found: "The percentage hatchability of eggs after immersion in 2, 5, 10, 30 and 60% NaCl solutions were lower than controls. The percentage hatchability decreased as the concentration of NaCl solution increased with no hatching of eggs in saturated NaCl solution. I recommend that saturated NaCl solution be integrated into the overall policy of control of dog ticks because of its acaricidal properties."

Eosinophils are a white blood cell that are seen in abnormally large quantities systemically (eosinophilia) during a parasitic infection or allergic reaction. The 2019 study Exploring the anti-allergic property of potentized sodium chloride using nasal eosinophil count as a criterion found: "From the study conducted, the eosinophil count was recorded before and after the treatment. Out of 15 participants, two had moderate eosinophilia and 13 had mild eosinophilia before treatment. There was no eosinophilia in any of the patients in the 2nd week of Natrum Muriaticum (homeopathic sodium chloride) intake. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that the administration of Natrum Muriaticum 30c had significantly reduced the eosinophil count within 2 weeks."

Dr. Natalie Spillman from the Research School of Biology at the Australian National University, author of the 2013 paper Na+ regulation in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum involves the cation ATPase PfATP4 and is a target of the spiroindolone antimalarials, is studying mechanisms to kill malaria by "blocking a molecular salt pump at the surface of the parasite, causing it to fill up with salt."

SUGAR BAD:

The 2015 study Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is Associated with Strongyloides stercoralis Treatment Failure in Australian Aboriginals found: "The results suggest that ivermectin is an effective treatment for Strongyloides in this setting, and that pre-existing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a risk factor for treatment failure, an observation of great interest in Aboriginal communities where the prevalence of both conditions is very high."

An interesting 2018 paper: Niclosamide: Beyond an antihelminthic drug states: "Niclosamide is an oral antihelminthic drug used to treat parasitic infections in millions of people worldwide. However recent studies have indicated that niclosamide may have broad clinical applications for the treatment of diseases other than those caused by parasites. These diseases and symptoms may include cancer, bacterial and viral infection, metabolic diseases such as type II diabetes, NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) and NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease), artery constriction, endometriosis, neuropathic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, sclerodermatous graft-versus-host disease and systemic sclerois."

The 2020 study Insulin Signalling in RBC (red blood cells) is Responsible for Growth Stimulation of Malaria Parasite in Diabetes Patients discussed: "A cross-talk between diabetes and malaria within-host is well established. Diabetes is associated with modulation of the immune system, impairment of the healing process and to disturb the host metabolism to contribute towards propagation of parasite infection...In summary, insulin and glucose metabolism plays a crucial role in parasite propagation, disease severity and need consideration while treating patients."

The 2017 paper Impact of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on the Incidence of Malaria stated: "Antimalarial drugs such as quinine and artemisinin are known to induce hypoglycemia in patients. Ellagic acid, a very effective antimalarial used in India, also has strong hypoglycemic effect. Another antimalarial drug nerolidol which is extracted from Artemisia herba-alba also exhibits hypoglycemic effects. All these data clearly suggest that replication of Plasmodium species depends on host's blood glucose concentration and the drugs which reduce the blood glucose levels will interfere with growth of the parasites. In uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, patients possess elevated blood glucose. Hence, they are more susceptible to malaria."

The 2018 paper Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Diabetes Mellitus Patients in China: Seroprevalence, Risk Factors, and Case-Control Studies found: "Each type of diabetes mellitus patients had a significantly higher T. gondii seroprevalence than the control subjects. Multivariate regression identified three variables as risk factors for T. gondii infection in diabetes patients, including keeping cats at home and consumption of raw oysters for T1DM (type 1 diabetes mellitus) patients and consumption of raw/undercooked meat and raw oysters for T2DM patients, which may help to guide future research and control policies in diabetes mellitus patients."

Please also see my article on the Demodex mite, and how infestation with this parasite is more prevalent in the high glucose ingesting / diabetic population. 

YEAST INFECTIONS (CANDIDA ALBICANS OVERGROWTH)

SALT GOOD:

The 2020 study Sodium Bicarbonate Gels: A New Promising Strategy for the Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidosis determined: "The prevalence of recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis (VVC) remains high so the development of alternative treatments is needed. The main objective of this study was to develop and characterize sodium bicarbonate gels to treat VVC. Among the formulations, formulation C (5% sodium bicarbonate, 1% carbomer and 94% water) was the most effective in inhibiting the C. albicans' growth. This gel presented the same potential to inhibit other etiological agents of VVC (C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis) for all species tested."

The 2008 study Anti-Candida activity of sodium sulfite found: "The growth of Candida albicans in RPMI1640 medium was inhibited by sodium sulfite between pH 3-6. Under an acidic pH condition, sodium sulfite had a candidacidal effect and the activity was expressed within 150 min."

SUGAR BAD:

The 2019 paper Candida sp. Infections in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus noted: "Candidiasis has increased substantially worldwide over recent decades and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among critically ill patients. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that predisposes individuals to fungal infections, including those related to Candida sp., due to an immunosuppressive effect on the patient...Results of the review show that DM patients have an increased susceptibility to Candida sp. infections which aggravates in the cases of uncontrolled hyperglycemia."

The 1990 study Handicaps to Host Defense: Effects of Hyperglycemia on C3 and Candida Albicans determined: "The hyperglycemic patient remains persistently at risk for infectious complications...Last, several pathogens frequently encountered in hyperglycemic patients possess unique mechanisms of virulence that flourish in the hyperglycemic environment. Most notable in this regard is the yeast Candida albicans, which expresses a glucose-inducible protein that is structurally and functionally homologous to a complement receptor on mammalian phagocytes. This protein promotes adhesion in the yeast and subverts phagocytosis by the host. Thus, hyperglycemia serves as a central mechanism in the predisposition of hyperglycemic patients to infection."

The 2013 study Frequency of Vaginal Candida Colonization and Relationship Between Metabolic Parameters in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus concluded: "There seems to be a significant link between hyperglycemia and vulvo-vaginal candidiasis in patients with type 1 DM. Improving glucose control may reduce the risk of candidiasis and potentially symptomatic infection among children with diabetes. Because of the high rate of colonization with candida species in diabetes, patients should undergo periodic screening for genital candidiasis." I do wonder what Type 1 kids are eating. I was at a conference once and someone I was talking to said a lot of parents of type 1 kids believe that their kids are missing out on their childhood if they're not eating all the sweets and pizza, etc. that other kids are.

I sometimes think of that comedian Jeff Foxworthy's tagline "You might be a redneck if..." and my own version would be "You might be a diabetic if..." and obviously it wouldn't be comedic, it would be to raise awareness that common health ailments could be pointing to an unknown hyperglycemic state in the body. This list would be long, very, very long. Processed sugar is a toxin to the human body, folks. A Starbucks cake pop and Venti white mocha for breakfast, bags of Halloween candy and baskets of Easter candy will eventually be looked at in company with our once seeing no harm in "high quality" alcohol consumption during pregnancy. When this "eventually" will be is unclear, but with diabetes spiraling out of control globally as it is, I am very much hoping soon. Diabetes needs to be seen as imminent a danger to the future of humanity as a presently incoming, monstrous tidal wave, and every physician I hope will know how important it is to ask every patient what their sugar consumption is, regardless of weight.