You’ve likely heard of increasing incidences of ‘superbug’ infections lately.  They’ve been occurring in hospitals, in the military, amongst athletes, schools, and any place, really, where people are in close contact all the time.  You might be wondering, what exactly is a ‘superbug’ infection and what makes them different from other infections.  Well, that’s what I’d like to talk to you about today and how a particular vitamin can help in its prevention.

What Are Superbug Infections?

The term “superbug” came into use regarding infections with a certain class of bacteria called methicillin resistant Staph aureus. The bug is not new – it’s been around for a very long time – it’s just morphed into a new, highly resistant form.  You see, humans have Staph aureus present on their skin all the time.  It doesn’t usually cause harm unless we’ve broken our skin somehow from a wound.  In the past, methicillin-type antibiotics were successful in killing skin wound infections with Staph aureus.  Today, though, there is a high degree of resistance to these antibiotics in the human population and they no longer work very well – or at all. Here’s why.

Over the past 20 years, people ran to their doctors to ask for antibiotics whenever they had a cold.  Yet, colds are caused by viruses – not the bacteria which antibiotics treat.  Every time methicillin type antibiotics were taken for a cold virus, more and more resistance to these antibiotics developed.  If they did have a skin infection, and these antibiotics were prescribed, they may not have completed the entire course of them, which allowed the bacteria to start reproducing again in a more resistant form.

Eventually, methicillin-type antibiotics became almost completely ineffective in killing the bacteria they were intended for.  Now, when many people get skin wounds, Staph aureus can multiply out of control because the antibiotics we have for them no longer work as well.  Serious, life-threatening conditions that require hospitalization can arise from the rapid overgrowth of the Staph aureus bacteria.  Combinations of different antibiotics are attempted to kill the infections.  Sometimes these work and sometimes they don’t resulting in the death of thousands of people around the world.

Can a Simple B Vitamin Help Fight Superbug Resistance?

Yes, says a recent breakthrough study [C/EBPε mediates nicotinamide-enhanced clearance of Staphylococcus aureus in mice, Gombart, Kyme, Liu, et al, Clin Invest, published online 27 August 2012] in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staph aureus (MRSA) infections. Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in California, the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, and the University of California Los Angeles, have discovered that nicotinamide – Vitamin B3 (also known as niacin)  – has been shown in lab studies with mice, and also human blood, to boost the ability of the immune system to kill “superbug” MRSA bacteria by 1,000 times.

It was also found during their research that disabled anti-microbial genes in certain people make them prone to getting MRSA-type bacterial infections. These genes help fight infections by boosting the immune system.  Mutations in these genes lead to deficiency in the proteins that kill bacteria.  High doses of B3 were shown to switch back on these genes and help produce the necessary boost to the immune system.  In the human blood studies, high doses of B3 were shown to wipe out the Staph aureus infection in a few hours.

Researchers concluded that Vitamin B3 is ‘surprisingly effective in fighting off and protecting against one of today’s most concerning health threats’.  Using Vitamin B3 – in conjunction with MRSA-killing antibiotics – could help stimulate the natural immune system to kill MRSA.

Does that mean you should go out and start loading up on high doses of nicotinamide – B3? No.   Although B vitamins are water-soluble and your body generally excretes what it does not need, taking very large doses of B3 can cause toxicity symptoms such as:

• Increased heart rate
• Hot flashes/flushing
• Dizziness or fainting
• Stomach pain/vomiting
• Liver toxicity

Maintain Optimal Vitamin B3 Levels  

Though the research on B3 is fascinating and can lead to less dependence on antibiotics in treating staph infection, the megadoses that were used in the study are far higher than that normally in the human diet.  Taking these high, therapeutic doses should be done only under medical supervision.

Maintaining optimal levels of Vitamin B3 will help boost your immune system on a daily basis so that you can fight staph infections more easily.  Include these foods in your diet everyday to ensure beneficial B3 levels:  beef, chicken, fish, and fortified cereals.  Also, a good B complex formula can fill in dietary gaps.

If you come down with a staph infection that requires antibiotics, boosting your intake of B3 for a short while could help you get rid of the infection faster, more effectively.  However, talk to your doctor about supplementing with B3, and just how much you should take, under his supervision to avoid toxicity.

Stay Well,
Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Natural Health News

Vitamin B3 May Help Kill Superbugs, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/249511.php

Vitamin B3 Turbo Charges Immune System to Fight Super Bugs, http://beforeitsnews.com/health/2012/08/vitamin-to-turbo-charges-immune-to-fight-super-bugs-2447336.html

photo credit: 3squaremealsblog.com