Using Monolaurin this Cold and Flu Season
Disclaimer: The research below is offered for information and educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. See Terms & Conditions
Monolaurin &
Flu
Another year, another flu season. While the best protection you can offer yourself is an annual flu shot and constant hand washing, you can't always predict which strain you'll come across or eliminate all germs from your daily routine.
Some flu sufferers turn to expensive and potentially ineffective antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu®, Relenza® or drug resistant alternatives such as Amantadine and Rimantadine. These drugs, when used correctly, only slightly lessen the duration (typically by one day) or severity of the infection.
One of the best ways to combat an infection is through a naturally strong immune system. You can support a healthy immune system through positive lifestyle changes like adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and potentially dietary supplements. One dietary supplement which may help support a healthy immune response is monolaurin - a medium chain fatty acid derived from coconut and palm oil.
Monolaurin is the focus of several research studies which examine its potential immune supporting properties in laboratory settings. Some studies and literature reviews include references to the potential inactivation of influenza by lauric acid - the compound form which monolaurin is synthesized [Ref #1, 6, 7].
"Approximately 50% of the fatty acids in coconut fat are lauric acid. Lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid, which has the additional beneficial function of being formed into monolaurin in the human or animal body. Monolaurin is the antiviral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal monoglyceride used by the human or animal to destroy lipid-coated viruses such as herpes, cytomegalovirus, influenza, various pathogenic bacteria, including listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and protozoa such as giardia lamblia. Some studies have also shown some antimicrobial effects of the free lauric acid. " (Ref #7)
In reviewing this literature, monolaurin may help support and maintain a healthy immune system during flu season.
Monolaurin and Influenza Research
Monolaurin might be dietary supplement to consider this cold and flu season based on the observations from some laboratory studies
One study tested monolaurin against Influenza A and found that, in laboratory settings, monolaurin may dissolve the viral envelope of the virus therefore inactivating it. (Ref #7)
“All four test substances exhibited significant antiviral activity. For influenza A/Ann Arbor/6/60, a drop of 3.5 logarithmic dilutions of virus occurred with monolaurin, 7.1 logarithmic dilutions with Lauriban-M and >8 logarithmic dilutions with Lauribic-II and Lauricidin+F. Electron micrographs of the test samples before titration revealed that the M (matrix protein) was aparently removed by the test substance treatment (Fig. 2B, C) whereas the solvent control virus remained unaffected (Fig. 2A). Removing the M protein from the virus envelope resulted in loss of envelop integrity, which is essential for virus infectivity.” (Ref #7)
In another study, researchers tested the effects of monolaurin on birds at risk of avian influenza – an RNA encapsulated virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family. The research found that extra virgin coconut oil, which contains approximately 50% lauric acid – the foundation of monolaurin – helped increase immunity in the test subject chickens.
“This research aimed to find [alternatives to prevent] avian influenza (AI) disease in broiler chickens through increasing [immune response in the body]. Lymphocyte T would directly react to antigen presented to the cell surface by antigen presenting cell (APC). Th-CD4 interaction functioned to maintain Th-APC bond intact during specific antigen activation. Fatty acid in virgin coconut oil (VCO) was potential as immunostimulant, which therefore could increase chicken immunity through the increase of lymphocyte T and Th-CD4.” [Ref #9]
The virgin coconut oil, which contains lauric acid – the element from which monolaurin is produced – was found effective in the study.
“Virgin coconut oil contained…lauric acid which would be turned into a monogliceryde of lauric acid or monolaurin… Monolaurin worked [against] all viruses and decreased ineffectiveness by breaking the virus envelope.” [Ref #9]
The study indicates the coconut oil / lauric acid / monolaurin supported the health of the test subject chickens in part due to its natural antiviral properties and ability to break down the viral envelope of the influenza virus.
Monolaurin and RNA Enveloped Virus Research
Because Influenzavirus A, B, and C are RNA Enveloped viruses, it may be worth a look at monolaurin’s potential impact on this category of viruses in laboratory studies.
A study of RNA viruses equipped with a double outer envelope found that monolaurin had the capacity to dissolve the outer envelopes thus limiting the infective capabilities of the virus. The study states:
“Each of the monolaurin mixtures effected a>99.9% killing of the 14 viruses tested in the study….Our data suggest that solubilization of the lipids and phospholipids in the envelope by the monolaurin and additives is a key factor in the virucidal activity of these test substances.” [Ref #7]
In other words, the monolaurin solution used by the scientists in this study killed more than 99.9% of the different viruses by dissolving the lipids in the protective envelope surrounding the cell of the viruses.
This study used purified preparations of avian flu and influenza virus and found the monolaurin solutions to be potentially effective antiviral agents. Other studies had similar results:
“Medium-chain saturated and long-chain unsaturated fatty acids, on the other hand, were all highly active against the enveloped viruses... Antiviral fatty acids were found to affect the viral envelope, causing leakage and at higher concentrations, a complete disintegration of the envelope and the viral particles. They also caused disintegration of the plasma membranes of tissue culture cells resulting in cell lysis and death.” [Ref #10]
This study used fatty acids in breast milk to study the effects of different types of fatty acids on viruses. Lauric acid, used to make monolaurin, is a medium-chain saturated fatty acid found in breast milk. The study found that upon complete breakdown of the viral envelope the viral particles would also disintegrate.
Read more about the research on Monolaurin and RNA Enveloped Viruses.
Conclusion
This cold and flu season, the best method to protect yourself is getting a flu shot, maintaining excellent hand hygiene, and keeping your natural defenses up through a strong immune system. Monolaurin, which has been examined for its potential immune supporting properties in lab studies, may give your body the support it needs to help get through the season.
If this is your first time buying Monolaurin, be sure to review some of the important considerations in the Monolaurin Buying Guide.
As with any dietary supplement, it is to use supplements with help and supervision of a healthcare professional.
References:
Lieberman S, Enig MG, Preuss HG. A Review of Monolaurin and Lauric Acid - Natural Virucidal and Bactericidal Agents. Alternative & Complimentary Therapies. 2006 December. Georgetown University Medical Center.
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.
Kabara JJ. The Pharmacological Effect of Lipids. Champaign, Ill, USA: American Oil Chemist’s Society; 1978. Page 92
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. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD [2007, 6(10):991-998]
Ruzin A, Novick RP. Glycerol monolaurate inhibits induction of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecalis. Journal of Bacteriology. 1998 Jan; 180(1):182-5
Silver RK et al. Factors in human milk interfering with influenza-virus activities. Science 123:932-933, 1956
Enig, M.G. “Coconut: In Support of Good Health in the 21st Century.” (2014)
Hierholzer, J. C. and kabara, j. J. (1982), In vitro effects of monolaurin compounds on enveloped RNA and DNA viruses. Journal of Food Safety, 4: 1-12. Doi:10.1111/j.1745-4565.1982.tb00429.x
Yuniwarti, E. and et al. “The Effect of Virgin Coconut Oil on Lymphocyte and CD4 in Chicken Vaccinated Against Avian Influenza Virus.” Journal of the Indonesian Tropical Animal Agriculture, 15 Mar. 2012.
Thormar, H, and et al. “Inactivation of Enveloped Viruses and Killing of Cells by Fatty Acids and Monoglycerides.” Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, doi:10.1128/AAC.31.1.27.