Is there a Candida connection to abnormalities in cholesterol metabolism?
There may be. Ergosterol is the major steroid produced by Candida and other fungi. Research shows that ergosterol strongly inhibits the same enzyme, 3-hydroxysterol –delta-7-reductase, that is defective in SLOS disease. Thus, many of the harmful effects of Candida in autistic spectrum disorders might be mediated through interference in the production of human cholesterol. Many antifungal drugs inhibit the production of ergosterol by Candida species. In addition, many cases have been reported in which vitamin D and calcium were elevated after fungal infection and returned to normal after antifungal treatment. Since ergosterol blocks the conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to cholesterol, there will be increased conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to vitamin D instead. It is possible that some of the benefits of antifungal therapy in autism may be mediated by removing ergosterol to allow greater cholesterol production by human metabolism.
