For some people living with HIV or AIDS, the breakthroughs in research and treatment have literally written a new lease on life. Having life saving drugs is only part of that new lease, however. People also need to make the most of a drug’s healing properties and enhance their quality of life. It’s here that supplements can be most useful. AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is found in infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. The most common way that people contract HIV is by engaging in unprotected sex—that is, having sex with an infected partner without using a condom to block transmission of the virus. People who use intravenous drugs can be exposed by sharing HIV-infected needles. It can also be spread through transfusions of contaminated blood, platelets, or plasma.
Once HIV enters the body, it attacks the immune system and sets out to destroy white blood cells called T cells, which help battle infection. The virus uses the genetic material of the T cells to reproduce itself, and as these cells die off, new HIV particles are released into the bloodstream to infect other white blood cells. The end result is a severely weakened immune system that can’t fight off opportunistic illnesses such as skin and fungal infections, pneumonia, and some cancers.
Today, there are several antiviral drugs and nutritional supplements that you can take in combination to slow the progression of the disease. The antiviral drugs include AZT, DDC, and DDI. These, as well as drugs called protease inhibitors, can reduce the amount of virus in your body and prevent opportunistic illnesses. Anyone taking these drugs, however, will attest that they can cause many unpleasant side effects.
Supplementing your drug regimen with antioxidants such as vita min E, lipoic acid, and selenium and some herbs can inhibit replication of the virus while meeting your body’s basic nutritional needs. Herbs such as licorice, turmeric, and St. John’s wort have antiviral properties that can help suppress the virus. And the amino acid carnitine can bolster immunity, help the antioxidants do a better job, and prevent drug toxicity. Of course, you shouldn’t start using any of these supplements without your doctor’s advice.
Antioxidants to the Rescue
Several studies have shown that people who have HIV and AIDS are deficient in many antioxidant vitamins and minerals. To understand why these shortages occur, you have to look at the way the antiviral drugs work and also consider the behavior of virus itself, says Brad Lichtenstein, N.D., a naturopathic doctor and clinic supervisor of the HIV immune clinic at Bastyr University in Bothell, Washington. He recommends a number of nutritional supplements to hinder the progression of HIV to AIDS.
Vitamin E. Of all the antioxidants that may help stop the virus in its tracks, research shows that vitamin E has the most consistent and best results. In one study, HIV-positive men with the highest levels of vitamin E in their blood were 34 percent less likely to develop AIDS than men who had the lowest levels of the vitamin.
Vitamin E’s antioxidant power prevents cell damage caused by HIV, so it inhibits the replication of the virus, says Susan Kowalsky, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in Norwich, Vermont. What’s more, vitamin E can help stimulate production of red blood cells in bone marrow, which comes to a screeching halt if you’re taking the drug AZT. Dr. Lichtenstein suggests taking 400 to 1,000 international units (IU) of vitamin E daily. Make sure you take d-alpha tocopherol, the natural form of vitamin E, he says.
Vitamin A and beta-carotene. Low levels of vitamin A and beta-carotene are associated with a decrease in T cells, says Dr. Lichtenstein, and supplementation will aid in the growth and reproduction of these immune cells.
Research shows that when vitamin A levels are low, T-cell counts also take a beating. People who are HIV-positive but also have normal levels of vitamin A will be more likely to have a higher count of T cells. Despite this, though, people with HIV should not automatically load up on vitamin A. The problem is that when vitamin A is taken in very high doses, it may speed the replication of the virus rather than slow it down. Alternative practitioners pay close attention to the amount that’s given. Vitamin A has been shown to slow the progression of HIV to AIDS when taken in moderate doses of 10,000 to 20,000 IU daily.
To get around the risk of accelerating virus replication, practitioners often prefer to recommend beta-carotene rather than vitamin A, says Dr. Lichtenstein. Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A in the body, so you’ll get the same benefit. In one study, researchers gave 30 milligrams (50,000 IU) of beta-carotene to participants twice daily for four weeks, followed by six weeks without treatment. The total counts of several essential blood factors were measured at the beginning of the study, at the end of four weeks, and finally, six weeks later. Researchers found that one of the significant blood factors—the immunity-boosting lymphocytes—increased by 66 percent as long as people continued to take the beta-carotene supplements.
Dr. Kowalsky recommends taking 50,000 to 200,000 IU of beta-carotene.
Selenium. Levels of this antioxidant usually dip dangerously low in people with HIV and AIDS. But we all need it, because selenium helps maintain a strong immune system. It’s very effective at protecting the body from free radicals, the free-roaming, unstable molecules that can damage cells, weaken immunity, and lead to various infections and diseases.
What’s more, selenium works closely with vitamin E to produce the antibodies that fight infection. It also raises levels of glutathione, a vital and powerful antioxidant produced in the liver that detoxifies bacteria and other harmful substances. Glutathione helps maintain red blood cells and protects white blood cells from harmful viral attacks; it has been shown to help slow the progression of HIV into full-blown AIDS.
Consult a physician to determine your nutritional deficiencies and find out how much selenium you should take.
Vitamin C. Like selenium, vitamin C can boost glutathione levels when taken in moderate doses, says Dr. Kowalsky. Research has shown that it inhibits replication of HIV in test tubes. Although there’s not much evidence to indicate that vitamin C can do the same in humans, it’s still considered a powerful antioxidant that possesses antiviral properties.
"We know that vitamin C stimulates and strengthens different aspects of the immune system," says Dr. Kowalsky. "It inhibits viruses and even cancer, so it’s worthwhile to take it as a treatment for HIV and AIDS."
There is some concern, however, that doses of vitamin C greater than 1,000 milligrams taken three times a day may damage lymphocyte function. As a precaution, Dr. Kowalsky recommends starting with 500 milligrams three times a day and working your way up to three 1,000-milligram doses. To determine your tolerance, consult a naturopathic doctor.
Lipoic acid. This vitamin-like antioxidant is in a class by itself. Research shows that it can block the reproduction of HIV by reducing the activity of an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which is responsible for manufacturing the virus from the genetic material of bloodborne cells.
"Lipoic acid can help treat HIV- and AIDS-related nerve damage," says Dr. Lichtenstein. "It can minimize the virus’s attack on the brain and help the brain maintain its cognitive function. It reduces free radicals and removes toxic minerals from the body. It also raises levels of glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E, so people feel a lot better." This supplement is available in health food stores. Dr. Lichtenstein recommends 200 milligrams three times a day with food.
Help from B to Z(inc)
Along with getting additional antioxidants, people with HIV and AIDS can use help from zinc and some B vitamins, with your doctor’s approval. Here’s why.
The B vitamins. A deficiency of vitamin B6 weakens the immune system. "It can lead to nerve damage and an impaired antibody response and affect how you metabolize amino acids," says Dr. Lichtenstein.
Low levels of vitamin B12 can cause nerve damage in the arms and legs. When you don’t have enough vitamin B12, you can also lose some muscle control and ease of motion, says Dr. Lichtenstein. Supplementation can prevent nerve damage, rid the body of toxins that can cause tissue damage, and stop the virus from replicating.
Dr. Lichenstein suggests taking 500 milligrams of vitamin B6 twice a day and 1,000 micrograms of B12 once a day.
Zinc. By itself, zinc plays a vital role in maintaining a strong immune system. Unfortunately, it’s scarce in people with HIV and AIDS. In studies of those taking AZT who also supplemented with zinc, researchers found that the supplement helped reduce the risk of other infections. What’s more, zinc has been shown to increase the number of immunity-boosting T cells as well as blood levels of an important immune-system–regulating hormone called thymulin.
Not all experts agree on how much zinc to take. "Half of the studies say that you can take more than 35 milligrams, while others say you should take less," says Dr. Lichtenstein. "We recommend taking no more than 30 milligrams daily."
Deploying a Tough Herbal Defense
As part of an HIV and AIDS treatment plan, there is a variety of botanical medicines that have been shown to slow the spread of the virus in the body.
Licorice. Much attention is being given to licorice root as a potential additional treatment for HIV infection. Research shows that the herb’s active ingredients, glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid, can prevent a number of processes involved in viral replication, such as the virus’s ability to penetrate cells and alter their genetic material.
Both compounds stimulate the release of the immune system chemical interferon, says Dr. Kowalsky. Interferon is your body’s built-in virus fighter. It attaches to cell surfaces and prevents viral DNA and RNA from reproducing, she says. Shortly thereafter, white blood cells called macrophages and natural killer cells are summoned to the scene to mount an even stronger defense against the virus.
In a study, 16 HIV-positive participants received 150 to 225 milligrams of pure glycyrrhizin, daily for three to seven years. At the end of the study, researchers discovered that not one person who received the licorice developed AIDS or showed any signs of deterioration in their immune systems. Among those in a similar group who didn’t receive the herb, two participants developed AIDS.
In another study, researchers gave 10 HIV-positive patients 150 to 225 milligrams of glycyrrhizin daily. After two years, not one had developed AIDS. Of the participants in the control group—people who took no supplements—three developed AIDS. "Licorice is definitely antiviral," says Dr. Kowalsky.
Under a doctor’s supervision, you can take a daily dose of 1,500 milligrams of pure powdered licorice root that contains 5 percent glycyrrhetinic acid, says Dr. Kowalsky. There are reasons to be cautious, however. If you take high daily doses of powdered licorice root, which comes in capsules, or of glycyrrhizin for more than four to six weeks, the supplements may cause sodium and water retention, potassium depletion, and high blood pressure. Don’t take licorice if you have high blood pressure or kidney problems.
Turmeric. Another herb that research shows can halt HIV replication in a variety of ways is turmeric, the spice that gives curry its pungent flavor. The active ingredient in this versatile antiviral herb is curcumin, which has a yellow pigment that gives turmeric its color.
Curcumin is an antioxidant that is 300 times more powerful than vita min E. "Curcumin’s antioxidant properties will protect your DNA from the ravages of the virus. It’s also antimicrobial, so it will help prevent the many opportunistic illnesses associated with HIV and AIDS," says Dr. Kowalsky.
In a study at Harvard Medical School, researchers showed that turmeric prevented the reproduction of HIV by blocking a specific gene that activates the virus and causes it to spread. Another study showed that it can inhibit some of the steps that lead to the reproduction of HIV.
A group of 18 HIV-positive participants with T-cell counts ranging from 5 to 615 took an average of 2,000 milligrams of curcumin daily in a preliminary study. Researchers saw an increase in their T-cell counts compared with a control group that didn’t take any curcumin. There’s ongoing work in even larger studies that may tell us more about curcumin’s effect on HIV. If your doctor is familiar with the benefits of turmeric, he may prescribe 2,000 milligrams daily, taken in 500-milligram doses four times a day.
St. John’s wort. This herb, well-known for its use in treating mild to moderate depression, is also being studied to find out whether it can slow the progression of HIV to AIDS. The herb contains two antiviral compounds that have been shown in animal studies and in test tubes to inhibit the reproduction of HIV.
In a study, 18 HIV-positive participants were given two milligrams of hypericin, a substance found in St. John’s wort, through weekly injections and oral supplements. Sixteen of the patients showed an increase in T-cell counts during the 40 months that they were observed. Only 2 of the 16 developed opportunistic infections during the study; the rest remained healthy.
Although St. John’s wort looks promising, researchers must continue to study the herb to determine its effectiveness. Currently, it must be taken in very large doses in order to slow the spread of HIV in the body. Taken in such massive doses, however, it can cause severe sun sensitivity, cautions Dr. Lichtenstein.
The Case for Carnitine
Carnitine is a vital nutrient that’s related to the B vitamins but is often referred to as an amino acid. Its main function is to transport fat to cells, where they are turned into energy. What’s more, carnitine increases the effectiveness of the antioxidant vitamins E and C. It has also been shown to boost immune function, and it can help prevent side effects of AZT.
If you have HIV or AIDS, talk to your doctor about taking this supplement. If you don’t supplement with carnitine, your health could be in jeopardy, says Dr. Lichtenstein. "Carnitine prevents key white blood cells from dying. It prevents the nerve damage associated with AIDS. It can prevent wasting syndrome, which is a breakdown in muscle and other body tissues that’s marked by weight loss, weakness, fever, diarrhea, and an increase in cholesterol."
In a study, researchers gave AIDS patients who were being treated with AZT 6,000 milligrams of carnitine daily. By the end of the study, the participants showed a significant increase in white blood cell counts.
