Antifungal therapy shows potential for IBD patients with Candida overgrowth
A commonly used systemic antifungal medication may help reduce symptoms in a subset of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by restoring a healthier gut microbiome, according to a preliminary study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. The study, published in Nature Medicine, provides what is thought to be the first evidence that targeting intestinal fungal dysbiosis can reshape…
A recent study at Weill Cornell Medicine suggests that systemic antifungal medication may benefit certain patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by improving gut health. The research, published in Nature Medicine, involved 53 patients with mild to moderate IBD already taking standard treatments and experiencing oral thrush.
The study compared the effects of fluconazole (systemic) and nystatin (local) treatments on intestinal Candida albicans overgrowth, a fungus linked to worsening IBD symptoms. Patients receiving fluconazole, which treats the entire gastrointestinal tract, showed more significant improvements in IBD symptoms, increased bacterial diversity, enhanced butyrate production, and better clinical disease activity compared to those on nystatin.
Dr. Iliyan D. Iliev, a study co-author, notes that Candida overgrowth may interfere with the effects of anti-inflammatory IBD medications and may negatively impact disease progression. The findings, while not randomized or placebo-controlled, provide evidence for exploring antifungal co-therapy in specific IBD patient populations.
Further research, including a larger multicenter trial, is needed to confirm these results and identify which subtypes of IBD may benefit most from such treatments.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
