AORN Journal: Garlic supplements may reduce strength of HIV medication

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Garlic supplements may reduce strength of HIV medication - Brief Article

Researchers have found that use of garlic supplements by study participants sharply reduced blood levels of saquinavir, a medication used to treat HIV and AIDS, according to a Dec 6, 2001, news release from the National Institutes of Health. For three days, nine healthy, HIV-negative participants received doses of saquinavir, a protease inhibitor used to slow the progression of HIV infection. The participants' blood then was tested to determine baseline levels of saquinavir in the bloodstream. Next, participants took garlic tablets twice daily for a three-week period. When their blood samples were analyzed again, the overall levels of saquinavir had decreased 51% and the average maximum concentrations had fallen 54%.

After a 10-day period in which they did not take garlic supplements or medications, the participants again took only the HIV medication for three days. Blood tests taken after the three-day period indicated that the blood levels of saquinavir still averaged approximately 35% lower than the baseline amount.

As garlic has a reputation as a natural cholesterol fighter, it has become popular for patients whose cholesterol levels have risen due to side effects of HIV medications. Researchers suspected a strong possibility of interaction between garlic and protease inhibitors because they share the same metabolic pathway into the body. Exactly how garlic supplements disrupt the uptake of saquinavir still is unclear. It also is unknown how garlic supplements would affect saquinavir in combination with other anti-HIV medications. Results of this study indicate that physicians and patients should exercise caution in the use of garlic supplements during HIV therapy.

Garlic Supplements Can Impede HIV Medication (news release, Bethesda, Md: Notional Institutes of Health, December 6, 2001) http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/dec2001/ niaid-05.htm (accessed 6 December 2001).