Oral Candida Mannan Concentrations Correlate with Symptoms/Signs of Ill Health and the Immune Status.

BACKGROUND

A relationship has been proposed between increases in oral Candida concentrations and host immunity. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between oral Candida mannan concentrations and symptoms/signs of ill health and the immune status and also to examine whether health/the immune status may be evaluated based on oral Candida mannan concentrations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The health conditions of 25 healthy individuals and 10 cancer patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy were assessed using a questionnaire and oral rinse solutions collected on consecutive days. Candida mannan concentrations in oral rinse solutions were measured using a commercial sandwich ELISA kit.

RESULTS

The use of dentures was identified as a significant independent factor increasing Candida mannan concentrations. In a stratified analysis based on the use of dentures, significantly increased Candida mannan concentrations were detected in healthy volunteers with chills and in cancer patients with slight/moderate fever (37.5-38.4 °C) (multivariate analysis, p < 0.01) who were non-denture users. These symptoms/signs may be associated with (pre-)infection, during which the immune system is activated and needs to function well.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results suggest that oral Candida mannan concentrations are a predictive marker for health/the immune status.