Does gastrointestinal Candida albicans prevent ubiquinone absorption?

Ubiquinones (coenzyme Os (CoQ)) are essential for oxidative phosphorylation in yeasts and humans, although the isomers present in each are different. The human coenzyme Q, CoQ10, is administered orally for the treatment of he art disease and other disorders. Some patients, however, require much highe r doses than others to attain a therapeutic CoQ10 blood level. We propose t hat one possible explanation for this variability is Candida colonization o f the GI tract. Many common medical treatments including antibiotics and an ti-hyperchlorhydric agents increase the risk of GI tract Candida colonizati on. Subsequent uptake and utilization of supplemental CoQ10 by the yeast co uld diminish availability for the human subject. Data from one patient and an in vitro pilot study using two pathogenic strains of C. albicans support this hypothesis. If C. albicans in the GI tract can hinder availability an d interfere with therapeutic effects of CoQ10, it could be of clinical sign ificance for large numbers of patients. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.