| People infected with HIV may benefit from | | | | group of HIV-negative healthy volunteers. At the end |
| micronutrient supplementation, according to a report | | | | of the study, the levels of these nutrients were |
| published in the February 2007, issue of the American | | | | normal in the patients given supplementation and not |
| Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The main focus of this | | | | in the placebo group. The study also showed that the |
| report was with HIV-infected persons not receiving | | | | supplemented group had substantially better |
| highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), but also | | | | antioxidant defenses and lower levels of oxidative |
| reports that additional study of those receiving | | | | stress than the placebo group. |
| HAART may show benefits as well because HAART | | | | Because HIV medications have a direct effect on the |
| therapy is shown to deplete many micronutrients in | | | | synthesis and metabolism of micronutrients in the |
| the body. | | | | body, restoring these depleted levels through dietary |
| HIV medications are relatively easy to obtain in | | | | supplementation may also provide substantial benefit |
| developed countries, but only 1 in 7 in Asian countries | | | | for those on HAART therapy. A small study showed |
| and 1 in 10 in African countries have access to HIV | | | | that greater intake of Vitamin E in adults receiving |
| antiviral drugs. Micronutrient deficiencies are commonly | | | | HAART reduced the outcome of HAART-related |
| observed in those with advanced HIV disease and | | | | complications which include body fat redistribution, |
| are associated with higher risk of disease progression | | | | dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. Other studies have |
| and mortality. In those receiving HAART, immunologic | | | | been shown to stimulate glutathione peroxidase |
| function is restored but these drugs do not eliminate | | | | activity and reduction of oxidative stress. |
| weight loss and wasting. Because of these factors, | | | | Such studies demonstrate the significant need for |
| micronutrient supplementation can be an inexpensive | | | | optimal nutritional support in HIV-infected people. It |
| way to improve quality of life and possibly reduce | | | | also calls for the need of further studies to provide |
| health care expenditures in those suffering from | | | | additional validation and solutions for people not able |
| advanced stages of HIV disease as well as those | | | | to receive HAART therapy as well as to support and |
| who continue to suffer from disease effects not | | | | improve the overall health of those who are on |
| treated by HAART therapy. | | | | HAART therapy. The long-term benefits may be |
| In one placebo-controlled study, HIV-infected patients | | | | seen in reduced health care expenditures, around the |
| were given Vitamins A, C, and E for six months. At | | | | world, as well as improved quality of life for those |
| the beginning of the test, all patients had lower levels | | | | suffering from the effects of HIV infection. |
| of these important nutrients when compared to a | | | | |