Research presented at the 2010 International AIDS Conference suggests certain vitamins and minerals, known as micronutrients, may help delay HIV disease progression and improve immune health of people living with HIV.
“The positive effect of micronutrient supplements in HIV patients goes beyond their positive effect on the immune system,” said Dr. Marianna Baum, Professor of Dietetics and Nutrition at Florida International University Stempel School of Public Health, in email correspondence with The AIDS Beacon.
“They improve mood, depression, quality of life, energy levels, capacity to exercise, and [illnesses] among other…
Several studies presented at the 2010 International AIDS Conference found that being HIV positive does not affect measures of overall life satisfaction or the ability to have a normal working life.
Prior research has suggested that stigma and health problems related to being HIV-positive can have a significant impact on various aspects of an individual’s lifestyle, including quality of life and employment.
However, newer treatment regimens, such as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), offer people with HIV a more normal lifestyle and health status. As a result, researchers have been…
Several studies presented at the 2010 International AIDS Conference found that newer antiretrovirals, such as Isentress and Selzentry, are safe and effective at treating even multi-drug-resistant HIV.
However, one study that examined the efficacy of single versus double boosted protease inhibitors in adults with drug-resistant HIV found that double boosted protease inhibitors offered no additional benefits over single boosted.
Although antiretroviral therapy is usually highly successful at treating HIV, drug-resistant forms of the virus have emerged over time. Studies have suggested that about 15 percent of HIV strains show resistance…
Bristol-Myers Squibb Extends Financial Support For AIDS Drug Assistance Programs – Bristol-Myers Squibb, maker of the antiretroviral drugs Reyataz (atazanavir) and Sustiva (efavirenz), announced this week that it will offer additional multi-year financial support for AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs). ADAPs are state programs that provide access to antiretroviral drugs for low-income people with HIV. Bristol-Myers Squibb also manages its own programs for assisting eligible patients. For more information, please see the Bristol-Myers Squibb press release.
Survey Finds Gaps In Communication Between HIV/AIDS Patients And Doctors – An AIDS Treatment for Life International Survey of over 2,000 HIV-positive patients worldwide found that although two-thirds of people with HIV also have other conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, communication with their doctors about these conditions is limited. Only half of the patients surveyed had discussed past medical conditions with their doctor; a quarter of patients had never told their doctors about drug side effects they were experiencing. The International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC), which conducted the study, urged doctors to more thoroughly discuss their patients’ other health concerns at medical visits. For more information, please see the IAPAC (pdf) press release.
Clinical Trial Tests Efficacy Of Probiotics On Immune Function In HIV-Positive Adults – A new clinical trial at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is testing whether a strain of the probiotic bacteria Bacillus coagulans can help increase CD4 (white blood cell) counts in people with HIV. The three month study is based on results in Africa showing that probiotic yogurt increased CD4 counts; however, it is not known if the results will also hold for Americans, who have better access to a nutritious diet. Researchers hope the probiotics will work indirectly to boost the immune system by reducing leakage of harmful bacteria from the intestines. For more information, please visit the Sustenex website.
Researchers presented several studies at the 2010 International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria that evaluated heart function and heart disease in HIV-positive adults. Two studies found that even young, healthy people with HIV may show signs of heart problems; two additional studies showed that kidney disease and heart disease in people with HIV may be linked.
People with HIV can be particularly prone to heart disease and heart problems, with some studies estimating that heart disease causes a fifth of all deaths in people with HIV.
As a result, researchers…