title: Could yeast infections impair recovery from mental illness? A case study using micronutrients and olive leaf extract for the treatment of ADHD and depression.
abstract: Micronutrients are increasingly used to treat psychiatric disorders including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorders, stress, and anxiety. However, a number of factors influence optimal response and absorption of nutrients, including the health of the gut, particularly the presence of yeast infections, such as Candida. As part of a wider investigation into the impact of micronutrients on psychiatric symptoms, many participants who experienced a yeast infection during their treatment showed a diminished response to the micronutrients. One case was followed systematically over a period of 3 y with documentation of deterioration in psychiatric symptoms (ADHD and mood) when infected with Candida and then symptom improvement following successful treatment of the infection with olive leaf extract (OLE) and probiotics. This case outlines that micronutrient treatment might be severely compromised by infections such as Candida and may highlight the importance of gut health when treating psychiatric disorders with nutrients. Given the role that inflammation can play in absorption of nutrients, it was hypothesized that the infection was impairing absorption of the micronutrients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. julia.rucklidge@canterbury.ac.nz
authors.forename: Julia J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rucklidge
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D010936:Plant Extracts