Important note: Information in this article was accurate in December 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
In HIV-infected humans (and SIV-infected monkeys) the intestines become swollen and damaged early in the course of infection. This results in decreased absorption of food and, over time, less-than-normal amounts of nutrients in the body.
Another factor that increases the demand for nutrients is the fact that HIV causes an infection that lasts for many years. The immune system requires huge amounts of nutrients — protein, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals — in its fight against this chronic infection. Moreover, HIV infection results in an increased production of damaging molecules called free radicals. In order to keep free radicals under control, the body requires several substances including the following:
GSH is a compound that the body makes by using minerals such as copper, selenium, manganese and zinc, B-complex vitamins and amino acids, particularly cysteine. Cells create an assembly line to put all of these substances together, and eventually an antioxidant enzyme is created. These enzymes are the body's primary defense against free radicals and many toxic substances.
A number of studies have found that in HIV/AIDS the demand for GSH exceeds the supply. Low levels of GSH can result in impaired performance of the immune system and increased toxicity from drugs. As well, when there is not enough GSH, the body begins to tear down muscles, which are rich in protein, partly to find the nutrients with which it can make GSH. It comes as no surprise therefore, that supplements of whey protein and/or cysteine (sold as NAC or N-acetyl-cysteine) seem like a good idea for PHAs. The following report details findings from two studies on cysteine supplementation in PHAs.
1. Luft FC. The slime loosener strikes again! Journal of Molecular Medicine 2000;78:55-62.
2. Bogden JK, Kemp FW, Han S, et al. Status of selected nutrients and progression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000;72(3):809-15.
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