Hepatitis C and Monolaurin | Putting the Pieces Together

Monolaurin Can Help Hepatitis A, B and C!

As with the other wonderful benefits people are experiencing with Monolaurin, Hepatitis C sufferers have also experienced wonderful relief. A couple samples:

“When he first started taking monolaurin 8 years ago, his ALT went from 562 to 120 in about 2 years. This last test was the biggest jump we’ve seen from 238 to 469 in 6 months. These past 6 months were the only time he WASN’T using monolaurin. We were trying a different approach with alpha-lipoic acid and selenium. Obviously, this didn’t work. Michael has no symptoms at all. He used to deal with fatigue and depression before we stated monolaurin therapy, but that is long gone. North Aurora IL

“I saw my doctor when I was taking ½ scoop of (monolaurin). He tested me and upped my dosage to 3 full scoops. I immediately broke out with a rash which went away in a few days. I seem to be tolerating about 2/12 scoops a day. Bottom line, my Hep PCR qaunt is down and is in large part responsible for the ever-increasing drop in my viral load. It’s by far the most amazing supplement I’ve ever been on. I believe I have even dissolved nuisance fibroid recently, and I attribute it to the (monolaurin), without a doubt.Somersworth NH

(Important Note: As with almost all supplemental nutrients, no one has the tens of millions of dollars needed to provide sufficient evidence to the FDA. However, the clinical evidence, as well as the testimony of many doctors and patients is pretty overwhelming! We will provide some samples below but always recommend for people to continue following the treatment plans of your doctor. Advise him/her of taking monolaurin – It is non-toxic and does not create resistant organisms. It can be taken alongside the majority of medications and there should be no conflict taking monolaurin with any conventional treatment plans.)

How Does It Work?

Monoglyceride is remarkable in its ability to:

1. Dissolve the outer envelope of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and certain protozoa. Monolaurin is made up of lipids (fats) and phospholipids. Most familiar is the triglyceride tested in cardiovascular risk assessments. …… the first obstacle in attacking pathogenic bacteria and viruses is getting through their outer protective membrane. Monolaurin does this. By destroying the outer membrane, the bacteria and virus are now rendered vulnerable to further destruction. Antibiotics do not dissolve the outer membrane. Their goal is to get through pores (porins), which can shift position.

2. Monolaurin also interferes with bacterial and viral ability to reproduce! This is accomplished by interfering with signal transduction, causing failure for the bacteria or virus cell to replicate (reproduce).

By Shari Lieberman, PhD, CNS, FACN (interview with Jim English)

Antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal resistance has become a worldwide problem for numerous organisms. The need for safe, effective (defense) not subject to resistance are desperately needed.

JE: And monolaurin—I see you’ve included 1,500 mg per serving. What is monolaurin, and why is it included?

Dr. Lieberman: Monolaurin is a short chain fatty acid (SFA) and an ester of lauric acid. Lauric acid was first identified as the most active antiviral and antibacterial substance found in human breast milk. Monolaurin is more biologically active than lauric acid, and works by a number of mechanisms to disrupt and inactivate viruses. First, lauric acid binds to the lipid (Hepatitis C) envelope that surrounds the virus. This, in turn, inhibits the replication cycle of the viruses by interrupting its ability to bind to the host cells. Lauric acid also prevents the uncoating, or shedding of the viral envelope that is required for replication and infection. Additionally, lauric acid directly disintegrates the viral envelope to make the virus more susceptible to host defenses.

JE: And monolaurin has been shown to have antiviral effects as well?

Dr. Lieberman: Monolaurin has been shown to be active against influenzavirus, pneumovirus, paramyxovirus (Newcastle), morbillivirus (Rubeola), coronavirus, Herpes simplex I and II, CMV (cytomegalovirus), Epstein-Barr (EPV) (including Hepatitis C), and HIV, just to name a few. In addition to its antiviral effects, monolaurin has also been shown to have antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Chlamydia, H. pylori, and against yeast and fungi as well, including Candida and ringworm.

(Also: Lieberman S, Enig MG, Preuss HG. A review of monolaurin and lauric acid: natural virucidal and bactericidal agents. Alternative & Complementary Therapies 2006;12(6):310-314.)

Dr. Enig stated Indian Coconut Journal, Sept., 1995:

“While HHV-6A was not mentioned by Enig, HHV-6A is an enveloped virus and would be expected to disintegrate in the presence of lauric acid and/or Monolaurin. Some of the pathogens reported by Enig to be inactivated by Monolaurin include HIV, measles, vercular stomatitis virus (VSV), herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), visna, cytomegalovirus (CMV‡ aC Influenza virus, Pneumonovirus, Syncytial virus and Rubof c. Some bacteria inactivated by MonolauriAn include listeria, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcusmulalactiae, Groups A, B, F and G streptococciill Gram-positive organisms; and gram-negative organisms, if treated with chelator.

The medium-chain saturated fatty acids and their derivatives act by disrupting the lipid membranes (Hepatitis C) of the organisms (Isaacs and Thormar 1991) (Isaacs et al 1992). In particular, enveloped viruses are inactivated in both human and bovine milk by added fatty acids (FAs) and monoglycerides (MGs) (Isaacs et al 1991) as well as by endogenous FAs and MGs (Isaacs et al 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992; Thormar et al 1987).

An Interesting Technical Look

Viruses are the most peculiar life form with which we have to deal. They are neither plant nor animal. They are not a different form of bacteria. They may be best described as part of the quintessential parasites living kingdom. They are not “living” organisms in the way we think an organism must be. Viruses must have a host to carry out their life functions. Without a host, a virus can’t reproduce because they lack the ribosomes necessary for replication; they must use a host’s ribosomes. Viruses can’t store their own energy, but must take it from the host cell. Viruses will take the host cell’s amino acids and use them for their own reproductive needs.

Viruses contain nucleic acid, either as DNA or RNA. Many virus have a protein coat called the capsid, which surrounds the genetic material. The Capsid is a protein envelope that encloses the particular nucleic acid (such as polio – which monolaurin cannot kill). The shape may be polygonal, or rod shaped. The outer envelope, the capsid, provides special proteins that allow the virion (virus-like nucleic acid organism that is outside a host cell) to penetrate a host cell and possibly inject infectious DNA or RNA. The Capsid also functions to protect its contents of DNA or RNA, and finally the capsid provides special receptors: spikes on its surface that allow it to adhere to a host cell.

Other virus (such as Hepatitis C) are enclosed by protective envelope of glycoprotein. This outer envelope surrounds the capsid, protecting it from harm. This membrane is composed of fat layers. The inner material of a virus is made up of strands of DNA or RNA. It is these virus, and their diseases, that monolaurin is effective against!

Finally: All three monoesters of lauric acid are shown to be active antimicrobials, i.e., alpha-, alpha’-, and beta-MG. Additionally, it is reported that the antimicrobial effects of n a FAs and MGs are additive and total concentration is critical for inactivating viruses (Isaacs and Thormar 1990).