cholecalciferol and Candidiasis--Vulvovaginal

In the present study, we assessed the adjunct effect of vitamin D3 in combination with Fluconazole (FLZ) against Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) in mice.. Prophylactic treatment with vitamin D3 (10 and 20 μg/kg) significantly increased the therapeutic effect of FLZ against VVC. In a therapeutic experiment, mice in the infected control group showed the highest vaginal fungal load of 83627 ± 10058 CFUs. Treatment with FLZ at a dose of 10 mg/kg reduced fungal load to 55523 ± 14823 CFUs, whereas the mice treated with a combination of vitamin D3 and FLZ (10 mg/kg) had the fungal burden of 12156 ± 3219. Similarly, treatment with FLZ (20 mg/kg) reduced fungal load to 36394 ± 5648 CFUs, whereas the addition of vitamin D3 to FLZ (20 mg/kg) further reduced the fungal burden to 2179 ± 1188. The leukocyte numbers in the infected mice increased to 9802 ± 505 as compared to 5152 ± 778 in normal control mice. Whereas, a combination of vitamin D3 with FLZ (10 and 20 mg/kg) reduced leukocyte numbers to 7284 ± 607 and 5739 ± 1126. The histological analysis data revealed epithelial necrosis, shedding and ulceration in the vaginal wall. Treatment with FLZ or a combination of FLZ and vitamin D3 brought regenerative changes in the vaginal epithelium and lamina proparia.. The results of the present work recommend that the addition of vitamin D3 may be considered to increase the efficacy of FLZ against VVC.

Topics: Animals; Antifungal Agents; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal; Cholecalciferol; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Fluconazole; Humans; Mice