Effects of vitamin E and C supplementation on oxidative stress and viral load in HIV-infected subjects.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Effects of vitamin E and C supplementation on oxidative stress and viral load in HIV-infected subjects.

AIDS. 1998 Sep 10;12(13):1653-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/98435814
Allard JP; Aghdassi E; Chau J; Tam C; Kovacs CM; Salit IE; Walmsley SL; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: The HIV-infected population is known to be oxidatively stressed and deficient in antioxidant micronutrients. Since in vitro replication of HIV is increased with oxidative stress, this study assessed the effect of antioxidant vitamin supplementation on lipid peroxidation, a measure of oxidative stress, and viral load in humans. DESIGN: A randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind study. METHODS: Forty-nine HIV-positive patients were randomized to receive supplements of both DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate (800 IU daily) and vitamin C (1000 mg daily), or matched placebo, for 3 months. Plasma antioxidant micronutrient status, breath pentane output, plasma lipid peroxides, malondialdehyde and viral load were measured at baseline and at 3 months. New or recurrent infections for the 6-month period after study entry were also recorded. RESULTS: The vitamin group (n = 26) had an increase in plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (P < 0.0005) and vitamin C (P < 0.005) and a reduction in lipid peroxidation measured by breath pentane (P < 0.025), plasma lipid peroxides (P < 0.01) and malondialdehyde (P < 0.0005) when compared with controls (n = 23). There was also a trend towards a reduction in viral load (mean +/- SD changes over 3 months, -0.45 +/- 0.39 versus +0.50 +/- 0.40 log10 copies/ml; P = 0.1; 95% confidence interval, -0.21 to -2.14). The number of infections reported was nine in the vitamin group and seven in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Supplements of vitamin E and C reduce oxidative stress in HIV and produce a trend towards a reduction in viral load. This is worthy of larger clinical trials, especially in HIV-infected persons who cannot afford new combination therapies.

Keywords: CLINICAL TRIAL JOURNAL ARTICLE RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL Adult Ascorbic Acid/BLOOD/*THERAPEUTIC USE Beta Carotene/BLOOD Carotene/BLOOD *Dietary Supplements Double-Blind Method Human HIV Infections/*DRUG THERAPY Lipid Peroxidation Oxidative Stress/*DRUG EFFECTS Selenium/BLOOD Support, Non-U.S. Gov't *Viral Load Vitamin A/BLOOD Vitamin E/BLOOD/*THERAPEUTIC USE Zinc/BLOOD
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A9920964

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