Monolaurin

Monolaurin is the monoglyceride form of lauric acid, meaning it is one lauric acid molecule attaches to one glycerol core molecule. Normally, fats are packaged by attaching three of them to three binding sites of a glycerol core.

Monolaurin disrupts the cell walls of some common families of pathogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus and Staphylococcus, thereby killing them. It can also kill some viruses that are coated in a fat layer called a lipid envelope. Monolaurin can break through the lipid envelopes of troublesome viruses such as herpes viruses (such as HSV-1, HSV-2, and Epstein-Barr virus), the HIV virus (often blamed for AIDS), and influenza viruses. There is also research that says monolaurin can harm some disease-causing protozoa such as Giardia.

Although monolaurin is commonly derived from coconut, simply eating coconut or coconut oil will not raise levels of monolaurin very high. That’s because most of the lauric acid is in the form of triglycerides. Some processing of the triglyceride form of lauric acid is required to create a high concentration of the monoglyceride form.

The least expensive way to take monolaurin is as pellets that you put in your mouth and swallow with a drink of water. The 21 ounce container of Ultimate Monolaurin is at the time of this writing the least expensive such product and rates very well. Do not chew the pellets if you want to avoid an unpleasant taste, just swallow them.

Be sure to start with a low dosage and work your way up to full dosage over a period of at least a few days. If you start with a high dosage, it may kill off so many pathogens at once that you get a worsening of symptoms known as a Herxheimer reaction. In rare extreme cases, this could even be life-threatening. If you start low and ramp up, you can monitor for the signs of Herxheimer and pause or step back on the dosage until it goes away.


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Conditions For Which Use May Be Beneficial

Acute viral infections such as the flu or herpes
Chronic viral infections such as Epstein-Barr virus and Cytomegalovirus
Infections with gram positive bacteria such as Streptococcus and Staphylococcus
Certain protozoal infections such as Giardia

Conditions For Which Use May Be Ineffective

Rhinovirus – common colds do not have lipid envelopes

Conditions For Which Use May Be Detrimental

Starting with a high dosage to fight any severe infection may cause a Herxheimer reaction. Start with a low dosage and ramp up over a period of time to help reduce the risk of this.

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Further Reading

Coconut: In Support of Good Health in the 21st Century


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