Monolaurin and Skin Infections
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Monolaurin &
Skin Infections
Skin and mucosa are known as the barriers fighting against pathogens that the body is exposed to. Without this barrier, the body may be at an elevated risk of infection.
Skin and Mucosa Health
Mucosa (mucous membranes) are layered over internal organs to help protect against various pathogens and also helps prevent body tissues from becoming dehydrated. Mucus membranes rely on nutrition. The integrity of these membranes can be compromised by various factors such as a lack of proper nutrition, or deficiency in some vitamins or minerals. (Ref #1)
Research suggest that monolaurin, which can be metabolized in the body by ingesting foods rich in lauric acid, may help support the immune system. Laboratory studies indicate the monoglyceride binds itself onto the pathogen’s membrane and slowly dissolves it (Ref #9).
“Antimicrobial lipids are found in mucosal secretions and are one of a number of nonimmunologic and nonspecific protective factors found at mucosal surfaces. Lipids can inactivate enveloped viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. Lipid-dependent antimicrobial activity at mucosal surfaces is due to certain monoglycerides and fatty acids that are released from triglycerides by lipolytic activity. The presence of lipids does not interfere with most clinical assays performed on human blood samples. Antimicrobial lipids can disrupt cell membranes and therefore lyse leukocytes which potentially carry virus.” (Ref #9)
A study in the Journal of Dermatitis suggests that coconut oil, a principal source of monolaurin, is more powerful against Atopic Dermatitis when compared to other oils. (Ref #2)
“Virgin coconut oil (VCO) and monolaurin's objective-SCORAD severity index (O-SSI) reduction and in vitro broad-spectrum activity against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) (given clinical validity here), fungi, and viruses may be useful in the proactive treatment of Atopic dermatitis (AD) colonization.” (Ref #2)
Another study in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology demonstrated that monolaurin extracts may be potent against several bacterial species that can cause skin infections, including Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus spp. In some experiments, the monolaurin extracts might be more potent against these bacteria as compared to conventional antibiotics. (Ref #3)
“Monolaurin has statistically significant in vitro broad-spectrum sensitivity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial isolates from superficial skin infections. Most of the bacteria did not exhibit resistance to it. Monolaurin needs further pharmacokinetic studies to better understand its novel mechanisms of action, toxicity, drug interactions, and proper dosing in order to proceed to in vivo clinical studies.” (Ref #3)
On human skin, coconut oil (which is the source of many monolaurin dietary supplements) may act an antiseptic with broad-spectrum effects. (Ref #10)
“Coconut oil and mineral oil have comparable effects. Both oils showed effectivity through significant improvement in skin hydration and increase in skin surface lipid levels. Safety was demonstrated through no significant difference in TEWL and skin pH.” (Ref #10)
Common Types Of Skin Infections
Skin infections can be bacterial, parasitic, viral or fungal.
Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections mainly involve soft tissue beneath the skin and skin itself. An example of a bacterial skin infection which monolaurin has been researched is Staphylococcus Aureus related infections. Monolaurin was shown to inhibit the activity of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in laboratory studies. (Ref #4)
“Glycerol monolaurate (GML) inhibits the expression of virulence factors in Staphylococus aureus and the induction of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecalis, presumably by blocking signal transduction. Although GML is rapidly hydrolyzed by bacteria, one of the products, lauric acid, has identical inhibitory activity and is metabolized much more slowly. At least four distinct GML-hydrolyzing activities are identified in S. aureus: the secreted Geh lipase, residual supernatant activity in a geh-null mutant strain, a novel membrane-bound esterase, and a cytoplasmic activity.” (Ref #4)
Parasitic Infections
The skin can also be infected by parasites. Giardia lamblia is a parasite which monolaurin has been shown in some research studies to inactivate, and may even be taken before exposure to prevent illness, as was reported in African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (Ref # 5).
“Table 1 showed that the reduction in trophozoite forms of G. lamblia in intestinal contents was 67.0% in group (3) treated with monolaurin pre-infection and 87.34% in the group (4) treated with monolaurin post-infection compared to infected control group (1). The reduction in the cysts of G. lamblia treated with monolaurin pre and post infection (group 3 and 4) was 73.96 and 91.15%, respectively (Table 2).” (Ref #5)
Viral Infections
This occurs when a virus within the body reflects symptoms on the skin.
Shingles – a reactivated virus that causes chickenpox – may be a type of herpes virus which is susceptible to monolaurin as reported in the book “Natural Treatments for Genital Herpes, Cold Sores and Shingles: A Review of the Scientific and Medical Literature” by John W. Hill (Ref #6).
“Of the saturated fatty acids, lauric acid has greater antiviral activity than either caprylic acid or myristic acid. It has been reported that monolaurin is more effective in inactivating viruses and other ineffective agents than lauric acid … Monolaurin is a glyceride ester derivative of lauric acid; and activated form of lauric acid. Monolaurin dissolved the lipids and phospholipids in the envelope of the virus causing the disintegration of the virus envelope effectively lysing the plasma membrane. There is also evidence that signal transduction is also interfered with, inhibiting the multiplication of the virus. Some of the viruses inactivated by these lipids are measles virus, herpes cimplex virus-1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), visna virus, and cytomegalorvirus (CMV)” (Ref #6)
Additionally, Molluscum Contagiosum – which causes multiple raised bumps on the skin – has been studied in relation to Monolaurin in an Argentinean study (Ref #7).
“After treatment, 15 (54%) of the 28 patients in the monolaurin group showed complete resolution of lesions, compared to 5 (18%) in the vehicle group. The monolaurin group had a significantly higher number of lesions with complete resolution (4.75±2.46 vs. 2.46±1.97, p<0.05). Likewise, the percentage reduction in number and size of lesions were higher in the monolaurin group (72±34% and 71±33%, respectively) compared to the vehicle group (40±34% and 45±34%, respectively) at p<0.05. Adverse events were similar and insignificant in the two groups.
Coconut oil extract or monolaurin cream is effective and safe in the treatment of molluscum contagiosum. Patients randomized to the monolaurin group had more lesions with complete resolution, and greater reduction in the number and size of lesions, compared to control.” (Ref #7)
Fungal Infections
Fungus can be found all over the body where the surfaces of skin meet. When monolaurin is used to help skin infections, it may act as an antiseptic that helps inactivate fungal overgrowths.
Yeast Infections (Candidiasis) – a fungus known as candida that lives on the skin – is extremely common and has been studied with Monolaurin for its potential immune response (Ref #8).
“The susceptibility of Candida albicans to several fatty acids and their 1-monoglycerides was tested with a short inactivation time, and ultrathin sections were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after treatment with capric acid. The results show that capric acid, a 10-carbon saturated fatty acid, causes the fastest and most effective killing of all three strains of C. albicans tested, leaving the cytoplasm disorganized and shrunken because of a disrupted or disintegrated plasma membrane. Lauric acid, a 12-carbon saturated fatty acid, was the most active at lower concentrations and after a longer incubation time.” (Ref #8)
References
Liu J, Bian Z, Kuijpers-Jagtman AM, Von den Hoff JW. Skin and oral mucosa equivalents: construction and performance. Orthod Craniofac Res. 2010 Feb;13(1):11-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-6343.2009.01475.x. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20078790
Verallo-Rowell, Vermén M.; Dillague, Kristine M.; Syah-Tjundawan, Bertha S. Novel Antibacterial and Emollient Effects of Coconut and Virgin Olive Oils in Adult Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatitis: November-December 2008 - Volume 19 - Issue 6 - p 308–315 doi: 10.2310/6620.2008.08052
Carpo BG, Verallo-Rowell VM, Kabara J. Novel antibacterial activity of monolaurin compared with conventional antibiotics against organisms from skin infections: an in vitro study. J Drugs Dermatol. 2007 Oct;6(10):991-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17966176
Ruzin A, Novick RP. “Equivalence of lauric acid and glycerol monolaurate as inhibitors of signal transduction in Staphylococcus aureus.” J Bacteriol. 2000 May;182(9):2668-71.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10762277
Fahmy ZH, Aly E, Shalsh I, Mohamed AH. The effect of medium chain saturated fatty acid (monolaurin) on levels of the cytokines on experimental animal in Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia infection. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. January 2014.
Hill, JW. "Natural Treatments for Genital Herpes, Cold Sores and Shingles: A Review of the Scientific and Medical Literature". Clear Springs Press; 2nd edition (January 7, 2012)
Chua E, Verallo-Rowell VM. Coconut Oil Extract (2% Monolaurin) Cream in the Treatment of Molluscum Contagiosum: A Randomized Double-Blind Vehicle-Controlled Trial. WCD, October 2007, Argentina
Bergsson G, Arnfinnsson J, Steingrímsson O, and Thormar H. In Vitro Killing of Candida albicans by Fatty Acids and Monoglycerides. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 2001 November; 45(11): 3209–3212
Isaacs CE, Kim KS, Thormar H. Inactivation of enveloped viruses in human bodily fluids by purified lipids. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1994 Jun 6;724:457-64.
Agero, A. L., & Verallo-Rowell, V. M. (2004). A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis. Dermatitis, 15(3), 109-116.