Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - Thursday 05 September, 2002
Anjira Assavanonda
Oraphan Methadilokkul, an expert in occupational and environmental medicine at Rajavithi Hospital, said the result came from an 14-month follow-up study of 22 patients whose blood tests were reported to have turned negative after they took V-1 from Ban Bangpakong Clinic.
She tested patients' viral loads, CD4 and CD8 counts (lymphocyte cells showing immunity levels), and HIV status. The study showed that their blood really had turned negative, although some still veered between positive and negative.
She believed the HIV virus might had moved from other body cells into the blood, causing unsteady results.
Among the patients, only one had ever taken anti-retroviral drugs during pregnancy, while the rest had taken V-1 alone. Most of the patients were Thais.
A group of doctor volunteers working with the Salang Bunnag Foundation last week said the product could not cure HIV as claimed by its inventor.
The Salang Bunnag Foundation earlier supervised distribution of V-1, but later withdrew its support after V-1 developer Vichai Jirathitikal and Immunitor Manufacturing Co began selling the product, for 30 baht a tablet.
The doctor volunteers accused Mr Vichai of exaggerating the quality of V-1.
They said patients taking V-1 for long periods had come down with opportunistic infections and many had died.
Dr Oraphan said it was too soon to conclude that the food supplement was an effective cure against HIV/Aids, and more studies were needed.
"What we need is a scientist to study the movement of HIV-activated cells and whether V-1 can kill the virus,'' said Dr Oraphan.
She had asked the Public Health Ministry several times to support extended research, with no luck.
The ministry's Aids Division even criticised her work in a report to Deputy Health Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, saying it contained weak points and was biased.
Dr Oraphan said the report discredited her and she would take legal action.
Thares and Varakul Saengsakul, an HIV-positive couple whose HIV-status turned negative, said their condition had improved after taking V-1, which they had done since 1999.
Mr Thares said his weight had increased from 45 kg to 65 kg, and his health was stronger.
Dr Surapong, he said, had made remarks undermining the product's credibility and that of its developer.
Dr Surapong earlier said that V-1 had been found to have no significant effect on patients.
Mr Thares said he and other HIV-positive people who backed V-1 would gather 50,000 signatures in a bid to remove Dr Surapong for malfeasance.
020905
BP020901
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