Treating (Recurrent) Vulvovaginal Candidiasis with Medical-Grade Honey—Concepts and Practical Considerations
Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is a relapsing vaginal fungal infection caused by <i>Candida</i> species. The prevalence varies among age populations and can be as high as 9%. Treatment options are limited, and in 57% of the cases, relapses occur within six months after flucona...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/8/664 |
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| author | Senna J. J. M. van Riel Celine M. J. G. Lardenoije Guy J. Oudhuis Niels A. J. Cremers |
| author_facet | Senna J. J. M. van Riel Celine M. J. G. Lardenoije Guy J. Oudhuis Niels A. J. Cremers |
| author_sort | Senna J. J. M. van Riel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is a relapsing vaginal fungal infection caused by <i>Candida</i> species. The prevalence varies among age populations and can be as high as 9%. Treatment options are limited, and in 57% of the cases, relapses occur within six months after fluconazole maintenance therapy, which is the current standard of care. The pathogenesis of RVVC is multifactorial, and recent studies have demonstrated that the vaginal microenvironment and activity of the immune system have a strong influence on the disease. Medical-grade honey (MGH) has protective, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory activity and forms a putative alternative treatment. Clinical trials have demonstrated that honey can benefit the treatment of bacterial and <i>Candida</i>-mediated vaginal infections. We postulate that MGH will actively fight ongoing infections; eradicate biofilms; and modulate the vaginal microenvironment by its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immunomodulatory properties, and subsequently may decrease the number of relapses when compared to fluconazole. The MGH formulation L-Mesitran Soft has stronger antimicrobial activity against various <i>Candida</i> species than its raw honey. In advance of a planned randomized controlled clinical trial, we present the setup of a study comparing L-Mesitran Soft with fluconazole and its practical considerations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:41:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a15aafa3df824e1f8c519231d48f4119 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:41:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-a15aafa3df824e1f8c519231d48f41192023-11-22T08:17:32ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2021-08-017866410.3390/jof7080664Treating (Recurrent) Vulvovaginal Candidiasis with Medical-Grade Honey—Concepts and Practical ConsiderationsSenna J. J. M. van Riel0Celine M. J. G. Lardenoije1Guy J. Oudhuis2Niels A. J. Cremers3Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The NetherlandsTriticum Exploitatie B.V., Sleperweg 44, 6222 NK Maastricht, The NetherlandsRecurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is a relapsing vaginal fungal infection caused by <i>Candida</i> species. The prevalence varies among age populations and can be as high as 9%. Treatment options are limited, and in 57% of the cases, relapses occur within six months after fluconazole maintenance therapy, which is the current standard of care. The pathogenesis of RVVC is multifactorial, and recent studies have demonstrated that the vaginal microenvironment and activity of the immune system have a strong influence on the disease. Medical-grade honey (MGH) has protective, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory activity and forms a putative alternative treatment. Clinical trials have demonstrated that honey can benefit the treatment of bacterial and <i>Candida</i>-mediated vaginal infections. We postulate that MGH will actively fight ongoing infections; eradicate biofilms; and modulate the vaginal microenvironment by its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immunomodulatory properties, and subsequently may decrease the number of relapses when compared to fluconazole. The MGH formulation L-Mesitran Soft has stronger antimicrobial activity against various <i>Candida</i> species than its raw honey. In advance of a planned randomized controlled clinical trial, we present the setup of a study comparing L-Mesitran Soft with fluconazole and its practical considerations.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/8/664recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasismedical-grade honeyfluconazolealternative treatmentmicro-environment modulation |
| spellingShingle | Senna J. J. M. van Riel Celine M. J. G. Lardenoije Guy J. Oudhuis Niels A. J. Cremers Treating (Recurrent) Vulvovaginal Candidiasis with Medical-Grade Honey—Concepts and Practical Considerations Journal of Fungi recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis medical-grade honey fluconazole alternative treatment micro-environment modulation |
| title | Treating (Recurrent) Vulvovaginal Candidiasis with Medical-Grade Honey—Concepts and Practical Considerations |
| title_full | Treating (Recurrent) Vulvovaginal Candidiasis with Medical-Grade Honey—Concepts and Practical Considerations |
| title_fullStr | Treating (Recurrent) Vulvovaginal Candidiasis with Medical-Grade Honey—Concepts and Practical Considerations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Treating (Recurrent) Vulvovaginal Candidiasis with Medical-Grade Honey—Concepts and Practical Considerations |
| title_short | Treating (Recurrent) Vulvovaginal Candidiasis with Medical-Grade Honey—Concepts and Practical Considerations |
| title_sort | treating recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis with medical grade honey concepts and practical considerations |
| topic | recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis medical-grade honey fluconazole alternative treatment micro-environment modulation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/8/664 |
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