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Results from a small Canadian study indicate that vitamin D supplementation in children with HIV does not significantly improve CD4 counts.

The study authors noted that the study did not include children with advanced HIV but rather children with proper immune function and relatively high CD4 (white blood cell) counts. The authors also pointed out that vitamin D insufficiency is common in children with HIV and recommended daily dosages of 1,000 to 2,000 International Units (25 to 50 micrograms) of vitamin D to maintain proper bone health, which is higher…

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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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According to a recent study, people with HIV who are vitamin D deficient may see improved vitamin D levels after switching antiretrovirals. In addition, the study found that low vitamin D levels were associated with regimens containing Sustiva or zidovudine, black ethnicity, and winter calendar months.

Based on their results, the study authors recommended that people with HIV be monitored for vitamin D deficiencies and given supplements or alternate antiretroviral regimens if severe deficiencies develop.

People living with HIV often have lower levels of vitamin D, which is an important…

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Fewer People With HIV Are Dying From HIV-Related Illnesses – A new report analyzing death certificates of people with HIV from 1996 to 2006 has found that fewer people with HIV are dying from HIV- and AIDS-related causes. Deaths from non-HIV related causes, such as cancer and heart disease, however, have increased during the same period. The report found that the number of deaths in people with HIV declined from 35,340 in 1996 to 13,750 in 2006, a 61 percent decrease. The percentages of deaths from AIDS-related illnesses such as fungal or bacterial infections and Kaposi’s sarcoma declined during this period; however, deaths from cancers increased from 2.7 percent to 7.3 percent of deaths; liver disease from 5.8 percent to 13 percent; kidney disease from 7.9 percent to 12 percent; and heart disease from 4.9 to 10.2 percent of deaths in people with HIV. The researchers concluded that care of people with HIV should increasingly focus on other life-threatening conditions, such as heart disease or cancer. For more information, please see the report in the Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (pdf).

Theratechnologies And Sanofi-Aventis Partner To Market Egrifta In Latin America, Africa, And The Middle East – Theratechnologies announced today that it has reached an agreement with Sanofi-Aventis for the introduction of Egrifta (tesamorelin) in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Under the agreement, Theratechnologies will be responsible for producing Egrifta and conducting any additional clinical research, while Sanofi-Aventis will be in charge of obtaining regulatory approval and marketing the drug. Egrifta is used to reduce excess abdominal fat in people with HIV who suffer from lipodystrophy, a common side effect of antiretrovirals in which body fat is abnormally redistributed. Egrifta was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November for sale in the U.S. (see related AIDS Beacon news). For more information, please see the press release on the Theratechnologies website.

Clinical Trial On Vitamin D Supplements In People With HIV Is Now Recruiting – A new clinical trial studying the effects of vitamin D supplementation in vitamin D deficient HIV-positive adults is now recruiting participants in Los Angeles. Participants will receive 50,000 IU of vitamin D twice weekly for 5 weeks, followed by 2,000 IU daily for 7 weeks. The current vitamin D recommendation for adults is 600 IU daily. The study aims to see if high doses of vitamin D can effectively eliminate deficiencies in trial participants. Vitamin D deficiencies are thought to contribute to bone loss, which is a common problem in people with HIV (see related AIDS Beacon news). Participants must be HIV positive, 18 to 90 years old, and have viral loads (amount of virus in the blood) of 200 copies per milliliter or less. Participants also cannot be taking vitamin D supplements and must be patients at the University of California, Los Angeles Center for Clinical AIDS Research & Education. For more information, please see the United States Clinical Trials Registry.

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Results of a small study indicate that vitamin D deficiencies in people with HIV who take Viread or Truvada may exacerbate problems with high parathyroid hormone levels, a side effect of the drugs that can lead to bone loss.

The researchers suggested that future studies evaluate whether taking vitamin D and calcium supplements can help alleviate high parathyroid hormone levels in people who take these antiretrovirals.

Parathyroid hormone is released by the parathyroid gland and is involved in regulating calcium and phosphorous levels in the body. Normally, parathyroid hormone is…