Micronutrient Supplementation Increases CD4 Count in HIV-Infected Individuals on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Abstract

Micronutrient supplementation can significantly improve CD4 cell count reconstitution in HIV-infected patients taking HAART. The micronutrient supplement tested was well tolerated and may hold promise as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of HIV. Further investigation is warranted.

Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene Concentrations in Adults with HIV/AIDS on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

“…Deficiencies of these micronutrients have been related to an accelerated progression of HIV, since they compromise the function of T and B cells, increasing the incidence and severity of the infection (5,6). Vitamin A increases the function of natural killer cells in vitro and supplementary doses of vitamin A alter the phagocytic cell response by stimulating phagocytosis and cell-mediated cytotoxicity (7).…”

Immunological effect of aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina and a known immune booster called immunace® and their admixtures on HIV/AIDS clients: a comparative study

“…However, the change in the CD4 + cells count in the treated groups occurred after 4 months of administration. Although it is a short term study, it is believed that with the increase in the cells count, one can easily say that the clients in the test groups are doing well and this increase can not be associated with extracellular CD4 which has been mopped up during immune reconstitution stage as reported in our previous study [12] . The inconsistence observed in the CD4 cell count depends on the white blood cell count, the percentage of lymphocytes and the CD4 receptor bearing lymphocyte.…”

Reducing Urogenital Infections Including HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa - Can Probiotics Be a Viable Paradigm?

“…The use of micronutrients, most notably vitamin B-complex in combination with C and E, appears to be an effective intervention that have been associated with reduced mortality and in most cases it results in increasing the CD4 counts of the infected person. (Kanter et al, 1991;Kaiser et al, 2006;Jiamton et al, 2003) The WHO/FAO has recommended that an ''increased micronutrient intake can be best achieved through an adequate diet,''(WHO, 2003) favoring food-based interventions. It should be noted that the gastrointestinal tract is one of the most severely affected organ by HIV (Kotler et al, 1984;Sharpstone et al, 1999).…”