- NEW YORK (Reuters Health)
- Antioxidant supplements taken by people with HIV appear to improve cholesterol
levels and midriff weight gain, but may have a negative impact on blood
sugar levels.
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- Those findings come from a small pilot study of 10 patients
who had the HIV-related fat-redistribution syndrome known as lipodystrophy,
or continuously high blood levels of lactic acid. All were on stable treatment
with standard antiretroviral drugs.
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- The two women and eight men were given supplements of
vitamin E (800 IU per day), vitamin C (1000 milligrams daily), and N-acetylcysteine
(NAC) (600 milligrams twice daily). Dr. Grace McComsey and a team at Case
Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, report the results in the
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
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- After 24 weeks, body measurements showed no significant
change in circumferences or skinfold thickness, except for a "modest"
decrease in waist-to-hip ratio. Triglycerides and total and HDL ("good")
cholesterol did not change markedly, but there was a trend toward lower
LDL ("bad") levels.
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- "Even with the small study sample size, we were
able to show some improvement of LDL cholesterol and waist-to-hip ratio,
both being very promising findings," Dr. McComsey told Reuters Health.
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- However, the patients' metabolism showed worsening resistance
to insulin during the study, and fasting glucose levels increased significantly.
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- This is "very concerning," McComsey told Reuters
Health, "and reminds us that we should always investigate vitamins/herbals
supplements prior to their use in HIV-infected subjects. We should never
assume that high doses of vitamins are safe. They are not safe until clinical
studies prove them to be safe."
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- SOURCE: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes,
August 15, 2003.
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