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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…

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Michigan And New York Now Accepting Applications For Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans – Michigan and New York have begun accepting applications for their new pre-existing condition insurance plans. The plans are available to individuals with certain pre-existing conditions, including HIV, who have been without health insurance for at least six months and are residents of the respective state. The plans are part of the new federal health care reform law, which requires every state to develop an insurance plan for individuals who have been denied coverage due to chronic illness or permanent injury (see related AIDS Beacon news). For more information, please see the NY Bridge Plan website, the Michigan PHP website, or the federal Healthcare.gov website.

Studies Find That Vitamin A Increases The Amount Of HIV In Breast Milk – Researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health have found that vitamin A and beta-carotene supplements are not safe in HIV-positive women who are breastfeeding because they may increase the amount of HIV in breast milk, raising the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby. The researchers think the supplements may increase the risk of breast inflammation, which can allow small amounts of blood to leak into the milk. Breastfeeding is not recommended for women with HIV in the United States, but is recommended in places where clean drinking water is scarce as long as women are receiving antiretroviral therapy. For more information, please visit the University of Michigan website.

Coalition For A National AIDS Strategy To Host Webinars On The National HIV/AIDS Strategy – The Coalition for a National AIDS Strategy will host two identical webinars to provide more details about implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which was introduced by President Obama on July 13. The presenters will cover the important aspects of the Strategy, current efforts in implementation, and the need for community advocacy. The 90 minute webinars will be held on Thursday, September 2 at 1 p.m. EST and Tuesday, September 7 at 6 p.m. EST. For more information, please visit the AIDS.gov website.

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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…

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New Jersey Restores Drug Funds For Low-Income HIV/AIDS Patients – New Jersey residents with HIV/AIDS who were excluded from the New Jersey AIDS Drug Distribution Program will now be enrolled in a new drug benefit program, the Temporary AIDS Supplemental Rebate and Federal Assistance Program. The new program will cover the cost of antiretroviral medications to individuals making between 300 percent ($32,490) and 500 percent ($54,150) of the federal poverty level per year. Funding for the new program comes from pharmaceutical company rebates and newly available federal AIDS grants. Program participants will be able to use the same eligibility number that they are currently using to fill prescriptions. For more information, please see the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services website.

Tibotec Pharmaceuticals Submits New Drug Application For Rilpivirine To Treat HIV – Tibotec Pharmaceuticals has submitted a new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for rilpivirine (TMC278), a new non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Rilpivirine is being studied for once-daily use with other antiretroviral drugs in treatment-naive HIV-positive adults. The application is based on the results of two Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating rilpivirine plus Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir) versus Sustiva (efavirenz). Tibotec has also agreed to collaborate with Gilead Sciences to develop a once-daily combination pill of rilpivirine and Truvada. For more information, please see the Tibotec Pharmaceuticals website and press release.

FDA Warns Consumers Of Serious Harm From Drinking Miracle Mineral Solution – The FDA is warning consumers not to drink Miracle Mineral Solution, also known as Miracle Mineral Supplement (MMS). MMS is sold online and falsely claims to treat multiple diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and cancer. The supplement contains an industrial bleach that can cause serious illness or injury, including severe nausea, vomiting, and life-threatening low blood pressure caused by dehydration. The FDA has warned consumers who have MMS to stop using it immediately and throw it away. For more information, please see the FDA website.

Some Dietary Supplements For People With HIV May Be Contaminated And Unsafe – The September issue of Consumer Reports identifies 12 dietary supplements that consumers should avoid because of possible health risks to the heart, liver, and kidneys. The list includes supplements such as colloidal silver (also known as ionic silver, native silver, or silver in suspending agent) and germanium (also known as Ge, Ge-132, or germanium-132) that are commonly used by people with HIV. Supplement manufacturers are not required to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of their products, which can be contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, or prescription drugs. Consumer Reports developed the harmful ingredient list with the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, an organization that researches and evaluates the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements. For more information, please see the Consumer Reports website.

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For people living with HIV, keeping their immune systems strong is of utmost importance, although it can often be a challenge. In a recently published study, researchers examined the connection between one intervention that may help, vitamin D, and HIV disease progression in pregnant women.

The study examined 884 HIV-infected pregnant women who were enrolled in a multivitamin supplementation trial that did not include vitamin D. After following these women for 69.5 months, researchers recorded information on HIV disease progression, hemoglobin levels, and mortality. Later, they connected this information with…