Articles tagged with: Dietary Supplements
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Results from a recent small study indicate that taking a certain micronutrient supplement for six months may help increase body weight in HIV-positive individuals.
However, the researchers noted that the supplement did not significantly affect study participants’ viral loads (amount of HIV in the blood) or CD4 (white blood cell) counts.
The results were presented at the 6th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention (IAS 2011) in Rome last month.
Micronutrients are minerals and vitamins that are needed in small amounts to maintain proper health. Examples…
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New Website Helps People With HIV Maintain Heart Health – A new website created by the American Heart Association and the American Academy of HIV Medicine provides guidance to HIV-positive patients regarding heart health. Heart disease is now a major cause of death among HIV-positive individuals. At www.hivandyourheart.org, patients will find videos, personal stories, an HIV checklist, and quizzes regarding HIV and heart health. The website also has applications for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch that help people set health-related goals and track their progress. For more information, please see the American Heart Association press release.
Low-Income South Carolina HIV Patients Must Try Generic Drugs First – Senators in the state of South Carolina voted last week to require low-income patients on Medicaid who need cancer, HIV/AIDS, and mental illness drugs to use generic drugs first if available. Generic HIV drugs include didanosine (Videx), stavudine (Zerit), and zidovudine (Retrovir). If a doctor subsequently determines that generic drugs are not sufficiently effective, he or she may prescribe brand name products. For more information, please see the Associated Press article.
Several States Are Reviewing Medical Marijuana Laws – Several states have begun reassessing their medical marijuana policies after the federal government issued warnings to these states. The warnings stated that licensed growers and regulators, including state employees, could be subject to prosecution. In response to the letter, Governor Chris Gregoire of Washington state vetoed a proposal to create medical marijuana dispensaries and has said states should instead work to change federal marijuana laws. Other states included in the warning letters are California, Colorado, Montana, and Rhode Island. For more information, please see the Associated Press article.
FDA and FTC Target Anti-STD Products Making False Claims – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced last week that they would take steps to remove fraudulent products from the market that claim to treat or cure sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV. These products include Disintegrate Formula and Detox Formula, sold by MasterPeace; and Colloidal Silver and Essaic Tonic Liquid Drops, sold by the International Institute of Holistic Healing. Letters have been issued to the manufacturing companies stating that their products break federal law, as none of them have been evaluated by the FDA for safety and efficacy. Some of the products are marketed as dietary supplements, but under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act they are all considered drug products. For more information, please see the FDA website.
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HIV positive individuals may find long term benefits from using dietary supplements in combination with antiretroviral medication.
A midterm report of a study conducted by the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society showed that body mass index and hemoglobin count improved in HIV positive individuals that used nutritional supplements with antiretroviral therapy.
Body mass index is a calculation of percentage of body fat, and hemoglobin levels are proteins in red blood cells that carry oxygen.
Low body mass index and low hemoglobin levels are often problematic in those with HIV.…