Diagnosis and therapy of chronic systemic co-infections in Lyme disease and other tick-borne infectious diseases

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, April, 2007 by Garth L. Nicolson

General Nutritional Considerations When Undergoing Therapy

LD patients are often immunosuppressed and susceptible to opportunistic infections, so proper nutrition is imperative. (17) Patients should not smoke or drink alcohol or caffeinated products. Fresh fluids, lots of juices (such as Juice Plus), or pure water are best. It is important that patients avoid high sugar and fat foods, such as military (MRE) or other fast foods and acid-forming, allergen-prone, and system-stressing foods, or high sugar/fat junk foods. Increase intake of fresh vegetables, fruits and grains, and decrease intake of fats and simple or refined sugars that can be immunosuppressive. Cruciferous vegetables, soluble fiber foods, fish, and whole grains are useful. In some patients, exclusive use of "organic" foods has been beneficial. For heavy metal removal, Garlic Plus (Longevity) has been proposed, and we find the use of Detoxamin suppositories useful. For help with bowel bacteria and bladder infections, many recommend D-mannose (Biotech). This natural sugar inhibits binding of bacteria to biological membranes.

Chronic illness patients are often depleted in vitamins (especially B complex, C, E, CoQ-10) and certain minerals. (16) These illnesses often result in poor absorption. Therefore, high doses of some vitamins are useful; others, such as vitamin B complex, cannot be easily absorbed, so sublingual natural B-complex vitamins should be substituted. General vitamins plus extra C, E, CoQ-10, beta-carotene, folic acid, bioflavoids, and biotin appear to be best, and L-cysteine, L-tyrosine, L-glutamine, L-carnitine, malic acid, and flaxseed or fish oils have been used as supplements. Certain minerals are depleted in chronic illness patients, such as zinc, magnesium, chromium, and selenium. Thus, extra vitamins and minerals have been used, especially if patients are removing heavy metals with chelating agents. Vitamins and minerals must not be taken at the same time of day as antibiotics (or oxygen therapy), because they can affect absorption.

Yeast/Fungal Overgrowth While on Antibiotics

Yeast overgrowth can occur, especially in females (especially vaginal infections) during antibiotic therapy. Gynecologists recommend Nizoral, Diflucan, Mycelex, or anti-yeast creams. Metronidazole (Flagyl, Prostat) has been used to prevent fungal or parasite overgrowth, or other antifungals (Nystatin, Amphotericin B, Fluconazole, Diflucan, or Pau d' arco, seven capsules/twice a day) have been administered for fungal infections that can occur while on antibiotics. Some patients have as their principal problem systemic fungal infections that can be seen using dark field microscopy of blood smears. For superficial fungal infections, such as fungal nail, a topical mixture of Laminsil in 17% DMSO twice a day is effective. As mentioned above, L. acidophilus mixtures are used to restore gut flora. Bacterial overgrowth can also occur, for example, between cycles of antibiotics or after antibiotics have been stopped. (16)