Monolaurin and Staph / MRSA
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Monolaurin and
Staph
Healthcare systems are challenged by the widespread prevalence of Staphylococcus Aureus related infections. This bacterium is considered pathogenic and causes different types of bacterial infections (Ref #1) in patients. Infections from this bacterium can be obtained in general community settings, as well as in hospitals.
Treatment remains a challenge due to the increased number of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections being reported, a strain of the bacteria that quickly becomes resistant to standard pharmaceutical protocols used to treat such infections.
The Impact Of Staphylococcus Aureus Infections
A paper (Ref #2) published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology Reviews estimates that up to 30% of the global human population may be colonized with the Staphylococcus Aureus bacterium which can cause MRSA. Upon a weakening of the immune system, the bacterium can multiply and cause infection. The population is exposed to these pathogenic bacterial microorganisms through different means. One study (Ref #3) in the Journal of Infection and Public Health found that up this bacterium may be present in up to 16.4% of meat products found in local stores, and the Methicillin-Resistant (MRSA) strains in up to 1.2% of these meat products.
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria can cause skin infections and pneumonia and contributes to infections related to food poisoning (Ref #4). The bacterium has also been linked to bacteremia, as well as toxic shock syndrome.
Monolaurin Research and Staph / MRSA
Monolaurin, a natural compound derived from lauric acid, has been the subject of several research studies exploring its potential to support healthy immune response. One study (Ref #5) explains that glycerol monolaurate, another name for monolaurin, seemed to inhibit the activity of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in laboratory conditions.
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 #5)
Additionally, it has also been noted that monolaurin may be an option in preventing bacteria from becoming resistant in the presence of a common drug used to treat such bacterial infections, known as Vancomycin (Ref #7).
“A cross-sectional laboratory study to determine the in vitro sensitivity and resistance of organisms in culture isolates from skin infections and mechanisms of action of monolaurin, a coconut lauric acid derivative, compared with 6 common antibiotics: penicillin, oxacillin, fusidic acid, mupirocin, erythromycin, and vancomycin.
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.” (Ref #7)
Another study (Ref #6) conducted on mice suggested that monolaurin is a potential antimicrobial agent. The study compared the effects of this substance to the use of Origanum oil.
“Lauric acid, present in heavy concentrations in coconuts, forms monolaurin in the body that can inhibit the growth of pathogenic microbes. In two separate In vivo experiments, injected Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC #14775) killed all 14 untreated mice within a 1-week period. In treated mice, over one third survived for 30 days when given oral Origanum oil daily for 30 days (6/14). Fifty percent of the mice survived for 30 days when receiving daily vancomycin (7/14) and monolaurin (4/8). Over 60% of mice survived when receiving a daily combination of Origanum oil and monolaurin (5/8). Origanum oil and/or monolaurin may prove to be useful antimicrobial agents for prevention and therapy of Staphylococcus aureus infections.” (Ref #6)
The bacteria killed all untreated mice in seven days. More than 60% of the mice that were treated with a combination of origanum oil and monolaurin survived the bacterial infection. The combination of monolaurin and Vancomycin was perceived as an effective alternative approach to the treatment of the infection.
While these studies present some interesting in vitro and in vivo results, additional research is needed to determine if monolaurin has antibacterial effects in humans.
Looking to try monolaurin? Consider some of the products located on this external site: Shop Monolaurin.
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References
Taylor TA, Unakal CG. Staphylococcus Aureus. [Updated 2017 Oct 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2018 Jan-. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441868/
Tong, S. Y. C., Davis, J. S., Eichenberger, E., Holland, T. L., & Fowler, V. G. (2015). Staphylococcus aureus Infections: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Management. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 28(3), 603–661. http://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00134-14
Hanson BM, Dressler AE, Harper AL, Scheibel RP, Wardyn SE, Roberts LK, Kroeger JS, Smith TC. “Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on retail meat in Iowa.” J Infect Public Health. 2011 Sep;4(4):169-74. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2011.06.001. Epub 2011 Jul 19.
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
Preuss HG, Echard B, Dadgar A, Talpur N, Manohar V, Enig M, Bagchi D, Ingram C. “Effects of Essential Oils and Monolaurin on Staphylococcus aureus: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.” Toxicol Mech Methods. 2005;15(4):279-85. doi: 10.1080/15376520590968833.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20021093
B.G. Carpo, V.M. Verallo-Rowell, J. Kabara. Novel antibacterial activity of monolaurin compared with conventional antibiotics against organisms from sin infections: an in vitro study. U.S. National Library of Medicine. October 2007. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17966176