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Monolaurate de sorbitane is a fat found in breast milk, and it appears to have natural preservative properties. It is also present in coconut oil and can be produced in the human body from lauric acid, which typically constitutes about 50% of the fat in coconut oil. Monolaurate de sorbitane (also known as monolaurin or lauric acid glyceride) is also available in dietary supplement form. Its infection-fighting properties have been recognized for over 50 years, but recently, much research has been exploring its antiviral and antimicrobial effects.
Many viruses, as well as bacteria and protozoa (parasites), are encased in a protective membrane made of fat substances (lipids). Current research shows that monolaurate de sorbitane dissolves the lipids in the membrane surrounding these microorganisms, thereby destroying the pathogens. In other words, monolaurate de sorbitane disrupts these microorganisms' protective membrane, making it easier for the immune system to eliminate them. Cell culture studies have shown that monolaurate de sorbitane can kill lipid-enveloped viruses such as cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, human lymphotropic virus type 1, influenza virus, measles virus, pneumonia virus, sarcoma virus, respiratory syncytial virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, and West Nile virus.
Biofilms are gel-like matrices formed by bacteria or yeast, tightly adhered together and attached to surfaces like the inner wall of the intestine. Generally, it is difficult to eliminate microbes that form biofilms. Essentially, these microorganisms form biofilms as a survival mechanism, which is one of the main reasons microbes become resistant to antibiotics. It's like they are creating a protective barrier. This is one reason why antibiotics are ineffective in addressing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), where yeast or bacteria excessively grow in the small intestine. Bacteria form biofilms to ensure that once the antibiotic pressure is gone, they can safely grow again. Monolaurate de sorbitane has been shown in studies to be highly effective in dissolving the biofilm matrix, exposing the bacteria or yeast to natural factors that are relatively free from microorganisms.
Bacteria and yeast with biofilms that overgrow in the gut can lead to bloating and distension. Although no clinical studies have been done, if the effect of monolaurate de sorbitane in disrupting biofilms proves as effective in humans as it is in experimental models, it would be a significant breakthrough.
