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Lauric acid is a 12-carbon medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) found naturally in human breast milk (6.2% of total fat) and coconut oil (47.5% by weight). Lauric acid was originally discovered when microbiologists studied human breast milk to determine the protective (anti-viral and anti-bacterial) substances which protected infants from microbial infections. Other fatty acids were also found to have antimicrobial actions but lauric acid was found to be the most active.

The esterification of lauric acid, that naturally occurs in our body, yields an amazing compound known as monolaurin (glycerol monolaurate). Monolaurin is a non-ionic surfactant¹, which possesses an even greater anti-viral and anti-bacterial activity than its precursor, lauric acid. Monolaurin, when given orally, at therapeutic doses between 2,500 – 4,500 mg/day is generally well tolerated, with loose bowels as the only negative concern. Monolaurin has been studied at medical research centers, including the Center for Disease Control (CDC), because of its high antimicrobial (anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-yeast and anti-protozoal) activity. These studies have provided information about the anti-viral and anti-bacterial mechanisms of monolaurin. Monolaurin was found to be effective against certain Lipid Coated Bacteria (LCBs) and Lipid Coated Viruses (LCVs) – enveloped DNA and RNA viruses.

¹Surfactant: Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lowering of the interfacial tension between two liquids, or between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as: detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants.

HIV-1, Influenza virus, paramyxoviruses, rubeola virus, bronchitis virus, and the herpes family of viruses (Epstein-Barr, cytomegalo, zoster, vericella-zoster and herpes type I and II). Sadly, monolaurin had no effect on diseases caused by non-enveloped viruses such as polio virus, coxsackie virus, encephalomyocarditis virus, rhinovirus, and rotaviruses.

 

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori),  Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae.

The anti-viral and anti-bacterial action attributed to monolaurin is that of solubilizing the lipids and phospholipids in the protective envelope of these particular infective agents causing the disintegration of the lipid envelope. Recent publications have shown that monolaurin and lauric acid inhibit the replication of viruses by interrupting the communication and binding of virus to host cells and thus preventing the uncoating of viruses necessary for replication and infection. Other studies have shown that monolaurin is able to remove all measurable infectivity by directly disintegrating the protective bacterial and viral lipid envelop. Binding of monolaurin to the viral envelop also makes the virus more susceptible to degradation by host defenses, heat, or ultraviolet light.

Microorganisms Inactivated by Monolaurin

Ecological Formulas Monolaurin (600 mg’s – 90 caps) $34.00 or Lauricidin® The Original Monolaurin 227gr $40.00 Call to Purchase 714-639-4360

This entry was posted on Monday, August 16th, 2010 at 9:29 pm and is filed under Foods that Heal, Gastritis, H. pylori, Infection, Shingles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.