HIV/AIDS support

DEFINITION: Treatment of symptoms of human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

• PRINCIPAL PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: None
• OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS:
• NATURAL TREATMENTS TO AVOID: Garlic, St. John’s wort, echinacea, ginseng, vitamin A, iron

Introduction

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV progressively destroys or damages cells in the immune system, making its host vulnerable to certain cancers and infections. Opportunistic infections (those infections caused by microorganisms that do not ordinarily cause illness in healthy people) can have severe or fatal effects in people with AIDS.

HIV is most commonly spread through certain sexual practices and by intravenous drug use. Also, women can infect their fetuses before or during birth or later through breastfeeding.

Within a month or two of exposure, infection with HIV may cause short-term flu-like symptoms, followed by a symptom-free period lasting months to years, during which the virus continues to multiply. After this stage, people with HIV may develop swollen lymph nodes, recurrent herpes sores, diarrhea, weight loss, and chronic yeast infections (oral or vaginal)—a state previously called AIDS-related complex (or ARC). Children may experience delayed development or fail to thrive. The condition is called AIDS when the number of immune cells known as CD4+, or helper T cells, drops below a certain level or when opportunistic diseases, such as pneumocystis pneumonia, develop.

Symptomatic HIV infection is increasingly rare in the developed world because of the success of pharmaceutical treatments. For many people, HIV infection is a manageable, if challenging, chronic illness.

The most effective treatment for HIV is called HAART, or highly active antiretroviral therapy. This approach generally involves combining three or more drugs taken from various families of antiretroviral drugs, including non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, fusion inhibitors, and protease inhibitors. The combination of these medications can prevent the development of AIDS indefinitely.

HAART, however, causes numerous side effects. Surveys have shown that people with HIV often take natural remedies in addition to conventional medications in hopes of reducing side effects and enhancing efficacy. Individuals with HIV should consult their doctors about any natural substances being taken. Also, one should be alert to possible interactions. People with HIV should not use St. John’s wort or garlic. Even vitamin C may pose risks.

Proposed Natural Treatments

Among the many proposed natural treatments for HIV, none have confirmatory supporting scientific evidence.

Inhibiting viral replication. No natural remedies rival the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs for inhibiting HIV replication in the body. However, preliminary research suggests that an extract of the leaves and stems of the boxwood shrub may have at least some efficacy. Many other herbs and supplements have been proposed, but there is little evidence that they work.

Boxwood. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 145 people with HIV, French researchers studied the effects of two doses of a preparation made from the evergreen boxwood (Buxus sempervirens). The preparation was given in doses of 990 milligrams (mg) and 1,980 mg daily for four to sixty-four weeks.

When participants started the study, they had no symptoms of HIV and had never taken antiretroviral drugs. They were kept off anti-HIV drugs during the study. (This was before anti-HIV drugs became widespread.) In the end, researchers found that among those taking the lower dose, fewer people developed AIDS, symptomatic HIV, or CD4+ counts below 200 compared with those taking the higher dose or a placebo. Additionally, by the end of their treatment period, fewer people in the low-dose group had a large increase in the amount of HIV they carried compared with the other two groups.

The researchers originally planned the study to continue for eighteen months (seventy-eight weeks). However, as the study progressed, a review committee decided to halt the study early when the average participant had taken boxwood or a placebo for only thirty-seven weeks. The review committee felt it was unethical to continue to have some people take a placebo, given the positive results among those taking the extract. Nonetheless, further research is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of boxwood extract for HIV, particularly with proven antiviral drugs, which became the standard of care for HIV infection.

No severe side effects were reported in this study, and the people taking boxwood had the same overall rate of side effects as those taking a placebo. However, there are some safety concerns with this herb. A substance called cyclobuxine is believed to be one of the active ingredients in boxwood. High doses of this substance can cause vomiting, diarrhea, muscular spasms, and paralysis. The herb should only be taken under medical supervision. Safety in pregnant or nursing women, young children, and people with liver or kidney disease has not been established. In addition, touching fresh boxwood leaves can occasionally cause skin irritation. Only a special boxwood extract has been studied as a treatment for HIV infection. One should not try to use raw boxwood leaf because it might not be safe.

Other proposed natural treatments. One of the constituents of the herb aloe, acemannan, has shown some promise in test-tube and animal studies for stimulating immunity and inhibiting the growth of viruses. These findings have led to trials of acemannan (or whole aloe) for the treatment of HIV infection. However, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of acemannan failed to find any benefits for people with severe HIV infection. (There is some question whether the effects seen in these studies were caused by acemannan or a contaminant called aloeride.)

Other substances that have been investigated for possible HIV suppression include bacailin (Chinese skullcap), curcumin, elderberry, schisandra, spirulina, and reishi. However, as with aloe, the evidence that they work is primarily limited to test-tube and animal studies; whether these results translate into real improvement among people with HIV has not been determined.

The herb St. John’s wort contains a substance called hypericin, which has been investigated for possible anti-HIV effects. However, contrary to popular belief, neither hypericin nor St. John’s wort is useful for treating HIV infection. In addition, St. John’s wort seriously impairs the activity of standard HIV medications and might lead to treatment failure.

Enhancing the immune system. In test-tube studies, several substances have been found to improve measures of immunity in HIV infection, for example, by elevating CD4+ counts, changing the ratio between CD4+ cells and other immune cells, increasing amounts of other immune chemicals, or enhancing the body’s ability to attack invading substances. However, there is relatively little information on whether they can help people with HIV infection.

N-acetylcysteine. One of the natural substances most widely used by people with HIV in hopes of enhancing immune system function is the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), but evidence that it helps is somewhat conflicting. NAC is a specially modified form of the dietary amino acid cysteine. NAC supplements help the body make the important antioxidant enzyme glutathione. Early human trials, including a double-blind study of forty-five people, suggest that NAC may increase levels of CD4+ cells in healthy people and slow CD4+ cell decline in people with HIV infection. Another study of NAC combined with selenium had mixed results, affecting T-cell counts in some people but not in others. However, preliminary results of another study found that NAC had no effect on CD4+ counts or the amount of HIV in the blood. Whey protein also contains cysteine and may increase glutathione levels, but there is little evidence of any meaningful benefit.

Other proposed natural treatments. One study found evidence that the amino acid methionine taken at a dose of 2.4 g daily may mildly improve immune function in people with HIV infection. Other natural treatments that are sometimes recommended to boost immunity in patients with HIV include andrographis, trichosanthin (compound Q), lipoic acid, coenzyme Q₁₀, maitake, a component of licorice known as glycyrrhizin, Momordica charantia (an herb also called bitter melon), echinacea, ginseng, omega-6 fatty acids, carnitine, and proteolytic enzymes. However, there is little evidence that these treatments work. Garlic is sometimes recommended, too, but for safety reasons, it should be avoided by people with HIV infection.

Fish oil is also sometimes recommended for enhancing immunity in HIV infection. However, one six-month, double-blind study found that a combination of the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil plus the amino acid arginine was no more effective than placebo in improving immune function in people with HIV infection. Another study found that the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) does not improve immunity in people with HIV infection.

Study results are mixed on whether massage therapy can improve measures of immune function. A careful review of thirty-five randomized trials found that relaxation therapies may be generally helpful in improving the quality of life of individuals with HIV and in reducing their anxiety, depression, stress, and fatigue. These interventions, though, had no significant effect on the growth of the virus, nor did they influence immunologic or hormonal activity. Subsequently, however, a small study involving forty-eight people with HIV found that mindfulness meditation, a popular method for inducing the relaxation response, slowed the loss of the specific immune cells destroyed by the virus, though more research needs to be done to confirm this result.

Treating other symptoms and opportunistic infections. In addition to the foregoing treatments, many natural remedies have been proposed for symptoms of HIV or common opportunistic infections. Bovine colostrum has been suggested as a treatment for the chronic diarrhea that commonly occurs in people with HIV or AIDS, but the evidence that it works is weak at best. Tea tree oil and cinnamon have been suggested to treat thrush (oral candida infection). There is some evidence that capsaicin cream applied topically is beneficial for limb pain caused by peripheral neuropathy associated with HIV infection.

DHEA is a hormone that seems to decrease in people with AIDS, possibly because of malnutrition and stress. One small double-blind trial suggests that DHEA (50 mg per day) may improve mood and fatigue scores in people with HIV; another small trial found inconclusive results. A more substantial (145-participant) double-blind study found that DHEA at a dose of 100 to 400 mg daily improved symptoms of dysthymia (minor depression) in people with HIV without significant adverse effects. DHEA does not appear to provide general benefits for people with HIV, such as improving immunity, suppressing virus levels, or aiding weight maintenance.

Chinese herbal combinations have been investigated for the treatment of HIV, but the results have not been very promising. In a twelve-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, thirty HIV-infected adults with CD4+ counts of 200 to 500 were given a Chinese herbal formula containing thirty-one herbs. The results hint that using the herbal combination might have improved various symptoms compared with the placebo, but none of the differences were statistically significant. People who believed they were taking the treatment showed significant benefit regardless of whether they were in the placebo or treatment group. In another double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, sixty-eight adults with HIV were given either a placebo or a preparation of thirty-five Chinese herbs for six months. The results indicate that using Chinese herbs did not improve symptoms or objective measurements of HIV severity. People using the herbs reported more digestive problems than those given the placebo.

Fighting weight loss. Undesired weight loss is a frequent symptom of HIV and AIDS. Weight loss can be so extreme that the person seems to “waste away,” hence the name “AIDS wasting syndrome,” which is technically defined as the loss of more than 10 percent of body weight combined with either chronic diarrhea or weakness and fever. Many factors can contribute to this weight loss, including loss of appetite, nausea, malabsorption of nutrients, and mouth sores. Supplemental medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), a particular type of fat, and glutamine may be helpful for this symptom, although there is no definitive evidence that they work. Other studies began investigating medical marijuana's influence on fighting weight loss and relieving pain, particularly in the early 2020s, but further, long-term studies are required to understand the true benefits.

MCTs. Fat malabsorption is particularly common in HIV infection and can lead to both diarrhea and weight loss. MCTs, which are more easily absorbed than ordinary fats (long-chain triglycerides), may help decrease diarrhea and wasting. Two small, double-blind studies have found that MCTs are more easily absorbed than long-chain triglycerides in people with HIV or AIDS. However, there is no direct evidence that MCTs help people gain weight. In both of these studies, participants consumed nothing but a special nutritional formula containing MCTs. Taking MCTs in this way requires medical supervision to determine the dose. People with HIV or diabetes should not use MCTs (or any other supplement) without a doctor’s supervision.

Glutamine. Another promising treatment for wasting is the amino acid glutamine, a substance that plays a role in maintaining the health of the immune system, digestive tract, and muscle cells. One double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that a combination of glutamine and antioxidants (vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, and N-acetylcysteine) led to significant weight gain in people with HIV who had lost weight. Another small, double-blind trial found that combination treatment with glutamine, arginine, and beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate could increase muscle mass and possibly improve immune status.

Other natural treatments. Whey protein is sometimes recommended for weight gain in HIV, but evidence that it works is preliminary at best. One study found that while exercise improved weight gain, whey protein alone or with exercise offered no benefit. Fish oil might be helpful for weight gain, however, further research is required to confirm this.

Treating the side effects of medication. Several natural treatments have been proposed to treat side effects from various medications used in the treatment of HIV infection. Reverse transcriptase inhibitors, such as lamivudine and zidovudine, may damage mitochondria, the energy-producing subunits of cells. The supplement CoQ₁₀ has been tried to minimize side effects attributed to mitochondrial damage. In one study, CoQ₁₀ improved sense of well-being in asymptomatic people with HIV infection; however, it worsened pain symptoms in people with peripheral neuropathy.

Taking AZT (zidovudine, formerly called azidothymidine) can lead to zinc deficiency, which may interfere with immune function. One partially blinded study found that zinc supplements may benefit people on AZT. In the zinc-treated group, body weight increased or stabilized, CD4+ count rose, and participants had significantly fewer opportunistic infections.

Carnitine has also been proposed as a treatment for AZT side effects, based on early evidence that it may keep AZT from damaging muscle cells. Other weak evidence hints that the acetyl form of carnitine might reduce nerve-related side effects caused by HIV drugs in general.

Based on preliminary evidence, vitamin B₁₂ has been suggested as a preventive for blood abnormalities caused by AZT. In one well-designed, double-blind study, using the amino acid glutamine at a dose of 30 grams (g) daily significantly reduced the diarrhea caused by the protease inhibitor nelfinavir (Viracept). Presumably, glutamine would be helpful for other protease inhibitors.

It has been suggested that the supplement NAC might help prevent side effects from the antibiotic TMP-SMX (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). However, two controlled studies found that NAC did not significantly decrease adverse reactions to TMP-SMX. Note, however, that TMP-SMX is known to decrease folate levels in the body, and folate supplements might, therefore, be useful.

The herb milk thistle is sometimes recommended for preventing liver problems related to using HIV medications. While there is no direct evidence that it is helpful for this purpose, there is fairly good evidence that milk thistle does not adversely affect blood levels of indinavir.

General nutrition support. People infected with HIV may be particularly vulnerable to malnutrition because of decreased appetite, poor absorption, or possibly increased requirements for specific nutrients. Studies have found deficiencies of vitamins A, B₁, B₆, B₁₂, and E, beta-carotene, choline, folate, selenium, and zinc to be common among people with HIV infection. Many deficiencies become more common as the disease worsens. This suggests, but does not prove, that taking supplements of these nutrients may be helpful. One study evaluated whether a multivitamin tablet might reduce infectivity of African women with HIV infection. Researchers unexpectedly found the opposite: Multivitamin tablets increase the levels of HIV in the genital area. The reason for this surprising finding is unknown. It is not clear whether the same response would occur among people living in developed countries who, presumably, have better underlying nutrition.

Vitamin A, beta-carotene, and mixed carotenoids. Vitamin A and beta-carotene are described together here because the body uses beta-carotene to produce vitamin A. Substances called carotenoids are closely related to vitamin A; this family includes lutein and lycopene.

Vitamin A deficiency may be linked to lower CD4+ counts and to higher death rates among individuals with HIV. A few preliminary studies have raised hopes that beta-carotene supplements might increase or preserve immune function or decrease symptoms among individuals with HIV. One small, double-blind study suggested that taking beta-carotene might raise white blood cell count in people with HIV infection. However, two subsequent larger controlled trials found no significant differences between those taking beta-carotene or the placebo in white blood cell count, CD4+ count, or other measures of immune function.

Two observational studies lasting six to eight years suggest that higher intakes of vitamin A or beta-carotene may be helpful, but they also found that caution is in order regarding dosage. This group of researchers generally linked higher intake of vitamin A or beta-carotene to lower risk of AIDS and lower death rates, with an important exception: people with the highest intake of either nutrient (more than 11,179 international units [IU] per day of beta-carotene, more than 20,268 IU per day of vitamin A) did worse than those who took somewhat less. Excessive dosages of vitamin A can be toxic to the liver. One should consult with a physician about the right dose.

It was previously thought that vitamin A supplements might decrease the rate of transmission of HIV from a pregnant woman to her newborn. However, the reverse may be true—vitamin A may increase the chance of such transmission.

One double-blind study found statistically weak evidence that using mixed carotenoids by individuals with AIDS might prolong life.

B vitamins. An observational study found that men with HIV with the highest intakes of vitamins B₁, B₂, and B₆ and niacin had significantly longer survival rates, while a similar study found that those taking the most B₁ or niacin had a significantly lower rate of developing AIDS.

Vitamin B₁₂ deficiencies in people infected with HIV have been linked to neurologic symptoms, including slower processing of information in studies of cognitive functioning; early research suggests that restoring B₁₂ levels to normal may decrease these symptoms. Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency has also been linked to lower CD4+ counts and more rapid development of AIDS.

Vitamin B₆ deficiency, which is common among individuals with HIV, has been linked to impaired immune function in one study of people with HIV infection. However, excessive intake of vitamin B₆ can cause neurologic problems.

Vitamins C and E. Massive doses of vitamin C have at times been popular among people with HIV based on preliminary evidence. An observational study linked high doses of vitamin C with slower progression to AIDS. High intake of vitamin E was also linked to a decreased risk of the progression to AIDS in a different observational study. However, a double-blind study of forty-nine people with HIV who took combined vitamins C and E or a placebo for three months showed no significant effects on the amount of HIV detected or the number of opportunistic infections. Research concerning vitamin C levels in individuals with HIV found that women with HIV experience abnormal urinary excretion, also called renal leak, which can lead to a deficiency. In this case, supplementation is beneficial.

It has been suggested that vitamin E may enhance the antiviral effects of AZT, but evidence for this is minimal.

Choline. The substance choline has been added to the list of essential nutrients. Evidence suggests that people with HIV who are low in choline may experience more rapid disease progression.

Iron. A study of seventy-one children with HIV noted a high rate of iron deficiency. One observational study of 296 men with HIV infection linked a high intake of iron to a decreased risk of AIDS six years later. However, one should not take iron supplements unless one is iron deficient.

Selenium. Selenium is required for a well-functioning immune system. Observational studies have linked higher levels of selenium in the blood with higher CD4+ counts and reduced risk of mortality from HIV disease. Selenium deficiency may also increase the infectiousness of women with HIV.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 450 people with HIV, using selenium supplementation at a dose of 200 micrograms (mcg) per day appeared to reduce measures of viral load. However, the statistical method used in this study is questionable. Previous smaller studies using more standard statistical methods failed to find such effects.

In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study, using selenium at a dose of 200 mcg decreased anxiety in patients undergoing HAART. Selenium has also been proposed as a preventive or treatment for cardiomyopathy, a disorder of the heart muscle that can affect people with AIDS. Evidence of its benefits is weak.

Zinc. Some studies have found that people with HIV tend to be deficient in zinc, with levels dropping lower in more severe disease. It remains unclear whether taking zinc will help.

Higher zinc levels have been linked to better immune function and higher CD4+ cell counts, whereas zinc deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of dying from HIV infection. One preliminary study among people taking AZT found that thirty days of zinc supplementation led to decreased rates of opportunistic infection over the following two years.

Other research has linked higher zinc intake to more rapid development of AIDS. In another study of individuals with HIV, those with higher zinc intake or those taking zinc supplements in any dosage had a greater risk of death within the following eight years. However, several studies found that using zinc supplements could reduce diarrhea symptoms in people with HIV infection.

Multivitamins. Because so many nutrients are affected by HIV infection and treatments, multivitamin supplements are a logical choice. A double-blind study of forty people on HAART found that using a multinutrient supplement improved CD4 counts and possibly improved neuropathy symptoms. As indicated by a foregoing study that evaluated whether using a multivitamin tablet might reduce infectivity of African women with HIV, multivitamin tablets increased the levels of HIV in the genital area.

Natural Treatments to Avoid

People using HIV medications should not take St. John’s wort. In a study of healthy volunteers, St. John’s wort was found to decrease the blood concentration of indinavir, one of the most widely used protease inhibitors, by 49 to 99 percent. This could lead to treatment failure as well as the emergence of resistant HIV strains. St. John’s wort also appears to interact with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, such as nevirapine (Viramune).

Garlic may also combine poorly with certain HIV medications. Two people with HIV experienced severe gastrointestinal toxicity from the protease inhibitor ritonavir after taking garlic supplements, and another study found that garlic might interfere with the action of the protease inhibitor saquinavir, reducing blood levels of the medication. Another study found that vitamin C at a dose of 1 g daily substantially reduced blood levels of indinavir. While echinacea and ginseng are believed to improve immune system function, they may also interfere with antiviral medications.

Other possible harmful effects discussed in this article include the worsening of peripheral neuropathy symptoms by CoQ₁₀ and an increase on infectivity attributable to multivitamins. People with HIV should consult a doctor before using any herb or supplement. Given the large number of drugs, herbs, and supplements taken by many people with HIV, the possibility of interactions is high.

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