Candida albicans is a yeast (fungus) which commonly grows on the skin, digestive tract, and the urinary/ sexual organs of humans. Excessive Candida growth may cause many health problems including painful infections (such as mouth thrush and vaginal Candidiasis), digestive problems, skin rashes, and neurological and neuropsychiatric problems such as depression in humans. In the digestive tract, Candida produces ethanol (beverage alcohol), acetaldehyde, and many highly allergenic proteins. A recent study conducted in Maryland and Germany suggests that Candida may also play a role in the Schizophrenia.
This study of 261 adults with Schizophrenia, 270 with Bipolar Disorder, and 277 non-psychiatric controls reported positive Candida albicans serum IgG antibodies were associated with a 9.53 fold greater risk of Schizophrenia in males (OR 9.53, 95% confidence interval 1.19-76.50, p<0.0001).
In females, Candida serum IgG antibodies were associated with significantly lower scores on the RBANS test for Schizophrenia. The authors suggested that dietary management of Candida should be considered in schizophrenic patients and more research is needed to understand possible relationships between human Candida colonization/ infection and psychiatric conditions such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Depression.
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