AIDS update

Better Nutrition (1989-90), Jan, 1989 by Frank Murray

Dr. Willoughby explained that each patient has to be treated individually, depending on whether or not he has AIDS, ARC, PCP, Kaposi's or tuberculosis. She said, "My procedure is very effective when I can see a patient in the early stages of the disease. Whether a patient is HIV positive, ARC, in remission or virus-free, is determined by clinical tests by M.D.'s outside my office, usually at the L.A. County-USC Medical Center. One of my patients was gravely ill and weak when he entered the Memorial Center in October. I am pleased to report that, with my nutritional program, in only three days he had gained four pounds and his skin color and mental outlook are greatly improved."

Around the world, researchers continue to experiment with various holistic therapies. Ian Brighthope, M.D., of Melbourne, Australia has prolonged the lives of 18 out of 20 AIDS patients and all 100 ARC (AIDS-related complex) patients he has treated. Dr. Brighthope prescribed massive intravenous doses of vitamin C initially, plus various other vitamins, minerals and herbs, as well as exercise.

Laboratory studies in Japan suggest spirulina, a blue-green algae in the large intestine which improves digestion, allows better absorption of nutrients and stimulates the immune system. In fact, some AIDS researchers theorize that the inability to properly absorb nutrients leads to a potentially fatal immune deficiency. Spirulina is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids and chlorophyll.

Sally J. Sato, R.Ph., and Jay M. Mirtallo, M.S., R.Ph., believe malnutrition in the AIDS patient may be one of the reasons many patients succumb to the disease. They said patients often are unable to gain weight, even when fed intravenously. Of the 30 AIDS patients they studied, 20 suffered from diarrhea and were unable to gain weight.

"Consequences of diarrhea may be directly related to maldigestion or malabsorption of some nutrients," the researchers said. Fat and vitamin B12 malabsorption is common with bacterial overgrowth due to action of bacteria on vitamin and bile salt metabolism. Successful treatment of the infection has led to improved vitamin B12 absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.

In other parts of the world, researchers at Sacco Hospital and the Italian National Research Council on AIDS in Ancona, Italy, said zinc supplements may enhance the immune system of AIDS patients because the mineral is involved in maintaining high levels of thymulin, which is a hormone from the thymus gland that regulates immune response.

Studies by Dr. Simin Nikbin Meydani at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston show that depressed immune functions in the elderly can be partially improved with vitamin E supplements, another positive implication for older AIDS patients.

"When vitamin E supplements were given to healthy elderly subjects for about one month, improvements in their immune responsiveness were noted," Dr. Meydani said. "These included increases in cellular immunity and challenges to their white blood cells, or lymphocytes. Thirty-four human subjects were in the double-blind study, 17 on placebos and 17 on vitamin E supplements."