Candida is a common type of yeast found on and in the bodies of healthy people. However, under certain conditions, Candida can cause disease. Many factors can put individuals at risk of contracting a Candida-related disease[1]. Many of these factors are more commonly found in older populations, making this age group disproportionately vulnerable to diseases caused by Candida[2]. Older age makes Candida more challenging to manage and remove from the body[3]. This is due to comorbidities and age-related health issues like reduced digestive[4–7], hormonal changes[8], and immune function[9]. Dietary supplements can help to prevent Candida infection and deal with Candida infections, making them a promising option for older individuals[10]. Supplements like the ones we offer at CanXida[11–13] are beneficial, considering how harsh conventional therapies can be*.

This blog explores Candida overgrowth and how senior populations are specifically susceptible to Candida-related disease. We discuss how this population may struggle to deal with Candida and provide guidance on managing and living well with Candida with a holistic healthcare plan.

Candida Overgrowth – An Overview

Candida is a yeast genus containing many different species that can cause disease. Like many microbes, Candida can live in harmony with our bodies as part of the healthy microbiome on our skin and digestive tract. Nevertheless, Candida has the potential to multiply excessively, leading to the manifestation of symptoms and the development of various health issues, a condition commonly referred to as Candida overgrowth[14]. Candida overgrowth can occur for multiple reasons, such as prolonged use of antibiotics and immune deficiency[15,16]. Candida overgrowth can present with very mild discomfort but can eventually lead to severe disease if allowed to progress unchecked. Overgrowth of Candida in the gut can cause bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, among others[1]. Candida overgrowth in the gut can lead to invasive infections that penetrate the gut wall and invade internal organs and the bloodstream. Such infections have a very high mortality rate[14]. The incidence of Candida infections is rising, positioning this microbe as an urgent global health concern, with senior populations as a very vulnerable demographic[17].

Aging and Increased Vulnerability to Infections

Our bodies change as we age. Immune function is one aspect of our physiology that diminishes over time, leaving us more susceptible to disease. Reasons for age-related immune depletion include:

• Accumulation of DNA changes that alter immune cell function[18]
• Alterations to immune cell metabolism9
• Hormonal changes8

However, reduced immune function is just one of many age-related predispositions to Candida overgrown and infection.

Aging changes the composition of the gut microbiome[19], which can provide a niche for pathogens like Candida to proliferate[20]. Reduced saliva production and difficulty swallowing remove one of the first barriers of defense against microbes, allowing them to accumulate and grow on vulnerable oral epithelia[5]. Slower skin regeneration causes a similar problem by reducing the skin’s natural barrier effect[21].

Candida infections can be challenging to identify because they share symptoms with many other diseases and the natural aging process[14]. These include fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, itching, and sugar cravings. Indeed, many healthcare professionals provide antifungal treatments based on the cumulative evidence of symptoms and the presence of risk factors rather than the precise diagnosis of the causative species[22–24]. Thus, knowing Candida risk factors is vital for managing gut health and choosing treatment strategies.

Common Risk Factors in Older Adults

Many age-associated factors put an individual at higher risk of Candida overgrowth. We have mentioned reduced immune function; however, comorbidities and other healthcare-related factors also increase Candida risk. Seniors are at more risk of infection, which means they are more likely to be placed on a prolonged course of antibiotics, which is a Candida risk factor[25]. Antibiotics disrupt our gut biome balance, providing potential pathogens with an opportunity to cause disease[15,20]. Comorbidities like diabetes and cancer are more common in older adults and also increase the risk of Candida infection[26,27]. Medications like corticosteroids and chemotherapies also deplete the immune system[28,29], promoting Candida growth. Older individuals, especially those living in care homes, are more likely to have nutrient deficiencies due to insufficient quantity or diversity of nutrition. Dentures and catheters are vectors for Candida overgrowth and infection in hospitalized patients. Thus, invasive procedures and prolonged hospital visits make seniors more likely to contract a Candida infection in the clinical setting where drug-resistant strains are likely to develop[30].

Understanding these risk factors allows individuals to take preventative measures against Candida overgrowth and accurately assess the likelihood of Candida infection if associated symptoms emerge.

Prevention and Management Strategies

Risk factors put us at a greater likelihood of Candida infection. However, there are decisions we can make to lower this risk and better manage Candida’s overgrowth if it occurs.

Diet plays a massive role in our body’s response to Candida. Candida thrives on high-sugar foods, but some foods have anti-Candida properties. Eliminating refined carbohydrates from our diets can help prevent Candida growth and will likely provide many other health benefits[31]. Focusing on whole foods such as vegetables and high-fiber grains helps digestion and keeps Candida at bay. Garlic has scientifically backed anti-Candida properties[32], which is why we’ve included it in our CanXida Remove formulation[13] to help remove Candida from the body*, and why it can be a beneficial component of an anti-Candida diet.

Maintaining good hygiene is also essential for preventing overgrowth. Establishing a consistent routine for oral and skin health is crucial[33]. Asking for help if you have difficulty establishing a healthy hygiene routine is essential and carries no shame. Our customers have found relief from irritating skin issues using our supplements[34].

Regular health checkups and reporting symptoms help catch Candida before it becomes a severe health issue requiring antifungal treatment.

Treatment Options

Doctors often recommend over-the-counter antifungal creams for mild, topical Candida infection. In more severe instances, healthcare professionals may prescribe oral antifungal medications, such as fluconazole, for a systemic approach[35]. Clinicians may employ intravenous fluconazole, echinocandins, or amphotericin B for severe infections such as sepsis[35,36]. Many antifungals can have side effects and have led to the emergence of therapy-resistant Candida strains[37–39]. Incorporating probiotics into one’s diet aids in restoring the body’s natural microbial balance and can help against Candida[40,41].

Probiotics are healthy bacteria commonly employed to restore balance to the gut microbiome during and after antifungal treatments[41]. Herbal remedies have been part of humanity’s arsenal against fungal infections for centuries[42]. Extracts from plants like neem[43], clove[44], and garlic[45] have potent anti-Candida effects and may have a less harmful impact on the body and be less likely to lead to the development of resistant strains.

Older individuals suffering from Candida may benefit from a more delicate and digestion-friendly approach to preventing and living with Candida. We at CanXida provide three all-natural formulations[11–13] that can help prevent Candida overgrowth and remove it from the body if overgrowth occurs*. Our formulations come in easy-to-take formats, meaning they fit seamlessly into a Candida treatment regimen or holistic approach to Candida care. Holistic approaches that consider mental and spiritual dimensions, not just physical health, provide the best method for living a full and satisfying life, even with Candida overgrowth[46].

Living Well with Candida

Candida overgrowth can sometimes be debilitating, but it doesn’t need to consume your whole life, no matter what age you are. Changing our habits like diet and hygiene can help to reduce symptoms and prevent reinfection after recovery. However, when dealing with chronic conditions, our attitude to the situation often matters most. Indeed, focusing on mental and emotional well-being allows us to reconceptualize our chronic ailments and lead a more positive and fulfilling life. Many strategies exist to achieve holistic wellness, including dietary supplements. Careful supplementation with natural ingredients can promote health without the burden of side effects from conventional therapies. CanXida’s three scientifically backed formulations draw on centuries of herbal medicine knowledge and provide a gentle alternative uniquely tailored for older adults[11–13].

Conclusion

Candida overgrowth presents a significant health challenge, particularly in seniors, due to diminished immune function and comorbidities[9,26,29]. Recognizing and addressing the risk factors and symptoms associated with Candida is critical for effective management and prevention. Dietary adjustments, good hygiene practices, regular health check-ups, and appropriate medical interventions are key to controlling Candida overgrowth. Notably, adopting a holistic approach to health that includes physical and mental well-being can significantly enhance the quality of life for those living with Candida. Natural remedies and supplements, such as those offered by CanXida, play a valuable role in this comprehensive approach, offering a gentle yet effective alternative to conventional treatments[11–13]. Ultimately, understanding and proactively managing Candida overgrowth empowers individuals, especially seniors, to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives despite the challenges posed by this common yet often underestimated condition.

Get in touch with one of our team members today to discover how CanXida’s all-natural products can help you or a loved one live fully with Candida.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

1. Lopes JP, Lionakis MS. Pathogenesis and virulence of Candida albicans. Virulence. 2022;13(1):89-121. doi:10.1080/21505594.2021.2019950
2. Kaeberlein M, Rabinovitch PS, Martin GM. Healthy aging: The ultimate preventative medicine. Science. 2015;350(6265):1191-1193. doi:10.1126/science.aad3267
3. Kauffman CA. Fungal Infections in Older Adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2001;33(4):550-555. doi:10.1086/322685
4. Paillaud E, Merlier I, Dupeyron C, Scherman E, Poupon J, Bories PN. Oral candidiasis and nutritional deficiencies in elderly hospitalised patients. Br J Nutr. 2004;92(5):861-867. doi:10.1079/BJN20041264
5. Crary M, Sura L, Madhavan A, Carnaby-Mann G. Dysphagia in the elderly: management and nutritional considerations. Clin Interv Aging. Published online July 2012:287. doi:10.2147/CIA.S23404
6. Rémond D, Shahar DR, Gille D, et al. Understanding the gastrointestinal tract of the elderly to develop dietary solutions that prevent malnutrition. Oncotarget. 2015;6(16):13858-13898. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.4030
7. Dumic I, Nordin T, Jecmenica M, Stojkovic Lalosevic M, Milosavljevic T, Milovanovic T. Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders in Older Age. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;2019:6757524. doi:10.1155/2019/6757524
8. Kumwenda P, Cottier F, Hendry AC, et al. Estrogen promotes innate immune evasion of Candida albicans through inactivation of the alternative complement system. Cell Rep. 2022;38(1):110183. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110183
9. Weyand CM, Goronzy JJ. Aging of the Immune System. Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2016;13 Suppl 5(Suppl 5):S422-S428. doi:10.1513/AnnalsATS.201602-095AW
10. Mitra S, Paul S, Roy S, et al. Exploring the Immune-Boosting Functions of Vitamins and Minerals as Nutritional Food Bioactive Compounds: A Comprehensive Review. Mol Basel Switz. 2022;27(2):555. doi:10.3390/molecules27020555
11. CanXida. CanXida Rebuild Whitepaper. https://candida.yeastinfection.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/customer-files/canxida_rebuild_whitepaper.pdf
12. CanXida. CanXida Restore Whitepaper. https://candida.yeastinfection.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/customer-files/canxida_restore_whitepaper.pdf
13. CanXida. CanXida Remove White Paper. https://candida.yeastinfection.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/customer-files/canxida_remove_whitepaper.pdf
14. Pappas PG, Lionakis MS, Arendrup MC, Ostrosky-Zeichner L, Kullberg BJ. Invasive candidiasis. Nat Rev Dis Primer. 2018;4(1):18026. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2018.26
15. Hofer U. How antibiotics predispose to candidiasis. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2022;20(7):382-382. doi:10.1038/s41579-022-00749-2
16. Netea MG, Joosten LAB, van der Meer JWM, Kullberg BJ, van de Veerdonk FL. Immune defence against Candida fungal infections. Nat Rev Immunol. 2015;15(10):630-642. doi:10.1038/nri3897
17. Statistics | Invasive Candidiasis | Candidiasis | Types of Diseases | Fungal Diseases | CDC. Published January 13, 2023. Accessed January 8, 2024. 
18. Lewis ED, Wu D, Meydani SN. Age-associated alterations in immune function and inflammation. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2022;118:110576. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110576
19. Ghosh TS, Shanahan F, O’Toole PW. The gut microbiome as a modulator of healthy ageing. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;19(9):565-584. doi:10.1038/s41575-022-00605-x
20. Pérez JC. The interplay between gut bacteria and the yeast Candida albicans. Gut Microbes. 2021;13(1):1979877. doi:10.1080/19490976.2021.1979877
21. Khalid KA, Nawi AFM, Zulkifli N, Barkat MA, Hadi H. Aging and Wound Healing of the Skin: A Review of Clinical and Pathophysiological Hallmarks. Life Basel Switz. 2022;12(12):2142. doi:10.3390/life12122142
22. Barantsevich N, Barantsevich E. Diagnosis and Treatment of Invasive Candidiasis. Antibiotics. 2022;11(6):718. doi:10.3390/antibiotics11060718
23. Lewis MAO, Williams DW. Diagnosis and management of oral candidosis. Br Dent J. 2017;223(9):675-681. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2017.886
24. Mohamed AA, Lu X liang, Mounmin FA. Diagnosis and Treatment of Esophageal Candidiasis: Current Updates. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;2019:1-6. doi:10.1155/2019/3585136
25. Prevention I of M (US) D of HP and D, Berg RL, Cassells JS. Risk Factors for Infection in the Elderly. In: The Second Fifty Years: Promoting Health and Preventing Disability. National Academies Press (US); 1992. Accessed December 18, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK235606/
26. Talapko J, Meštrović T, Škrlec I. Growing importance of urogenital candidiasis in individuals with diabetes: A narrative review. World J Diabetes. 2022;13(10):809-821. doi:10.4239/wjd.v13.i10.809
27. R AN, Rafiq NB. Candidiasis. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023. Accessed November 24, 2023. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560624/
28. Mustafa SS. Steroid-induced secondary immune deficiency. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2023;130(6):713-717. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2023.01.010
29. Verma R, Foster RE, Horgan K, et al. Lymphocyte depletion and repopulation after chemotherapy for primary breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. 2016;18(1):10. doi:10.1186/s13058-015-0669-x
30. Dadar M, Tiwari R, Karthik K, Chakraborty S, Shahali Y, Dhama K. Candida albicans – Biology, molecular characterization, pathogenicity, and advances in diagnosis and control – An update. Microb Pathog. 2018;117:128-138. doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2018.02.028
31. Gunsalus KTW, Tornberg-Belanger SN, Matthan NR, Lichtenstein AH, Kumamoto CA. Manipulation of Host Diet To Reduce Gastrointestinal Colonization by the Opportunistic Pathogen Candida albicans. Mitchell AP, ed. mSphere. 2016;1(1):e00020-15. doi:10.1128/mSphere.00020-15
32. Khodavandi A, Alizadeh F, Harmal NS, et al. Comparison between efficacy of allicin and fluconazole against Candida albicans in vitro and in a systemic candidiasis mouse model: Investigating the effect of allicin on systemic candidiasis. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2011;315(2):87-93. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2010.02170.x
33. Larson PJ, Zhou W, Santiago A, et al. Associations of the skin, oral and gut microbiome with aging, frailty and infection risk reservoirs in older adults. Nat Aging. 2022;2(10):941-955. doi:10.1038/s43587-022-00287-9
34. CanXida. canxida_customer_testimonials.pdf. 
35. Louie A, Liu W, Miller DA, et al. Efficacies of High-Dose Fluconazole plus Amphotericin B and High-Dose Fluconazole plus 5-Fluorocytosine versus Amphotericin B, Fluconazole, and 5-Fluorocytosine Monotherapies in Treatment of Experimental Endocarditis, Endophthalmitis, and Pyelonephritis Due to Candida albicans. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1999;43(12):2831-2840. doi:10.1128/AAC.43.12.2831
36. Pfaller MA, Messer SA, Rhomberg PR, Borroto-Esoda K, Castanheira M. Differential Activity of the Oral Glucan Synthase Inhibitor SCY-078 against Wild-Type and Echinocandin-Resistant Strains of Candida Species. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2017;61(8):e00161-17. doi:10.1128/AAC.00161-17
37. Ademe M, Girma F. Candida auris: From Multidrug Resistance to Pan-Resistant Strains. Infect Drug Resist. 2020;13:1287-1294. doi:10.2147/IDR.S249864
38. Branco J, Miranda IM, Rodrigues AG. Candida parapsilosis Virulence and Antifungal Resistance Mechanisms: A Comprehensive Review of Key Determinants. J Fungi. 2023;9(1):80. doi:10.3390/jof9010080
39. Fisher MC, Hawkins NJ, Sanglard D, Gurr SJ. Worldwide emergence of resistance to antifungal drugs challenges human health and food security. Science. 2018;360(6390):739-742. doi:10.1126/science.aap7999
40. Shi LH, Balakrishnan K, Thiagarajah K, Mohd Ismail NI, Yin OS. Beneficial Properties of Probiotics. Trop Life Sci Res. 2016;27(2):73-90. doi:10.21315/tlsr2016.27.2.6
41. Reid G, Gadir AA, Dhir R. Probiotics: Reiterating What They Are and What They Are Not. Front Microbiol. 2019;10:424. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2019.00424
42. De Oliveira Santos GC, Vasconcelos CC, Lopes AJO, et al. Candida Infections and Therapeutic Strategies: Mechanisms of Action for Traditional and Alternative Agents. Front Microbiol. 2018;9:1351. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.01351
43. Mahmoud DA, Hassanein NM, Youssef KA, Abou Zeid MA. Antifungal activity of different neem leaf extracts and the nimonol against some important human pathogens. Braz J Microbiol Publ Braz Soc Microbiol. 2011;42(3):1007-1016. doi:10.1590/S1517-838220110003000021
44. Latifah-Munirah B, Himratul-Aznita WH, Mohd Zain N. Eugenol, an essential oil of clove, causes disruption to the cell wall of Candida albicans (ATCC 14053). Front Life Sci. 2015;8(3):231-240. doi:10.1080/21553769.2015.1045628
45. Shuford JA, Steckelberg JM, Patel R. Effects of fresh garlic extract on Candida albicans biofilms. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2005;49(1):473. doi:10.1128/AAC.49.1.473.2005
46. Straßner C, Frick E, Stotz-Ingenlath G, et al. Holistic care program for elderly patients to integrate spiritual needs, social activity, and self-care into disease management in primary care (HoPES3): study protocol for a cluster-randomized trial. Trials. 2019;20(1):364. doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3435-z