Antiviral intervention for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  Feb-March, 2004  by Shari Lieberman

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SNMC 20 ml ampoules for IV use provide 40 mg GL, 400 mg glycine, and 20 mg L-cysteine. The therapeutic IV dose range for SNMC is from 40 to 60 ml and may go as high as 100 ml for a therapeutic effect. Oral intake of GL and/or GA ranges from 150-300 mg/day. SNMC has aminoacetic acid and L-cysteine added to prevent pseudo-aldosteronism resulting in sodium retention, potassium depletion and hypertension. Pseudo-aldosteronism is rarely reported at therapeutic doses but can be treated with spironolactone and perhaps prevented with potassium supplementation and consuming potassium rich foods. Patients taking GL or GA should routinely monitor their blood pressure. However, hypertension has not generally been observed in patients with CFS (clinical observation). CFS patients often have postural hypotension and perhaps they are not susceptible to this adverse effect.

Lauric Acid/Monolaurin

Lauric acid was first discovered as the main antiviral and antibacterial substance in human breast milk. It is a medium chain, saturated fatty acid that is also found in coconut products. Monolaurin is the glycerol ester of lauric acid and is more biologically active than lauric acid. Monolaurin has been shown to be active against influenza virus, pneumovirus, paramyxovirus (Newcastle), morbillivirus (rubeola), coronavirus (avian infectious, bronchitis virus), herpes simplex I & II, CMV, EBV, and HIV. Monolaurin disrupts the lipid bilayer of the virus preventing attachment to susceptible host cells. It binds to the lipid-protein envelope of the virus and inactivates the virus. Monolaurin inhibits the replication of viruses by interrupting the binding of virus to host cells and prevents uncoating of viruses necessary for replication and infection. Monolaurin can remove all measurable infectivity by directly disintegrating the viral envelope. Monolaurin binding to the viral envelope makes a virus more susceptible to host defenses.

Monolaurin is effective against yeast and fungi, staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus agalactiae, chlamydia trachomatis, candida albicans, giardia lamblia, ringworm, H. pylori and gonorrhea. Monolaurin is non-toxic and listed in GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) as a food emulsifier. A therapeutic dose of monolaurin is generally 1800 mg to 2400 mg per day.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a flavonoid compound that is found in many foods including apples, onions, medicinal herbs and tea. Quercetin has been shown to be active against many types of cancer including: breast, prostate, colon, gastric, head and neck, leukemia, lung melanoma, liver, ovarian, cervical, rhabdomyosarcoma and it damages cancer cells only. In addition to its powerful antioxidant activity it is a potent aromatase inhibitor. Quercetin inhibits production of estrogen from DHEA and testosterone and also inhibits estrone sulfatase in the liver. It has anti-inflammatory effects and could help the muscle and joint pain associated with CFS. It also has strong anti-histamine activity and could improve the environmental and chemical sensitivities associated with CFS. It is immunostimulatory and antiviral against CMV, EBV, HIV, poliomyelitis and herpes simplex I & II. It blocks RNA transcriptase, impedes viral replication and increases reduced intracellular glutathione. Quercetin is non-toxic and the major flavonoid found in the US diet. It is estimated that Americans can consume approximately 25 mg/day. The therapeutic dose ranges from 2000 to 4000 mg/day.