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Improve Your Immune System! "Micronutrient
supplementation can significantly improve CD4 cell count in HIV-infected patients
receiving HARRT" Methods: "Forty HIV-infected patients taking a stavudine and/or didanosine-based HAART regimen were prospectively randomized to receive micronutrients or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. Data were collected at 4-week intervals including immunologic, metabolic, and clinical measurements. The study examined the effect of micronutrient supplementation on immunologic parameters as the primary end point. The secondary end points were metabolic and clinical effects and distal symmetrical polyneuropathy." Department of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco Medical School. 
Results: "The mean absolute CD4 count increased by an average of 65 cells in the micronutrient group versus a 6-cell decline in the placebo group at 12 weeks (P = 0.029). The absolute CD4 count increased by an average of 24% in the micronutrient group versus a 0% change in the placebo group (P = 0.01). The mean HIV-1 RNA decreased in the micronutrient supplementation group, although not significantly. Neuropathy scores improved in the micronutrient group by 42% compared with a 33% improvement in the placebo arm. Fasting serum glucose, insulin, and lipids were not adversely affected in the patients taking the micronutrients." Conclusion of Study "This study demonstrates that a micronutrient
supplement administered to HIV-infected patients taking stable HAART significantly
enhances CD4 lymphocyte reconstitution. Our findings support
the potential for a broad-spectrum micronutrient supplement to be used as adjuvant therapy
in combination with HAART to provide patients with a more robust CD4 cell rebound after
initiating antiretroviral treatment."
Other StudiesIn fact, in a very large University of California at Berkeley study it was shown that those with the slowest disease progression had a level of nutrients not achievable by diet alone—in other words, the people who did the best over time were using nutrient supplements. Many other studies done over the years have shown a high level of nutrient deficiencies in HIV disease, and many positive benefits of higher levels of nutrients in people living with HIV/AIDS.University of California at Berkeley study: Abrams B, Duncan D & Hertz-Picciotto, I. A prospective study of dietary intake and acquired immune deficiency syndrome in HIV-seropositive homosexual men. JAIDS 6:949-958, 1993. Thailand study: Jiamton S, Pepin J, Suttent R, Filteau S, Mahakkanukrauh B, Hanshaoworakul W, Chaisilwattana P, Suthipinittharm P, Shetty P, Jaffar S. A randomized trial of the impact of multiple micronutrient supplementation on mortality among HIV-infected individuals living in Bangkok. AIDS. 2003 Nov 21;17(17):2461-9. Tanzania study: Fawzi WW, Msamanga GI, Spiegelman D, et al. A randomized trial of multivitamin supplements and HIV disease progression and mortality. N Engl J Med 2004;351:23-32.
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