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New Study Shows British Nutritional Supplement May Prolong Life
Span Of HIV-Infected Individuals
London,
England, 25 November 2003
As
the developing world's continuing fight against AIDS is highlighted
by campaigners on the forthcoming World's Aids Day, new research
published in the November issue of AIDS, the Official Journal
of the International AIDS Society, suggests that a nutritional supplement
available on the British high street may help significantly reduce
the mortality rate of HIV-infected patients with CD4 cell counts
below 200 per microlitre.
This
is the first randomised trial to show a clinical benefit—a
reduction in deaths—as a result of multiple micronutrient supplementation
and illustrates that nutrients, which are both readily available
and cost effective, could play an important role in the global fight
against HIV/AIDS.
A
total of 481 HIV-infected men and women took part in the trial and
were asked to take Immunace®, a commercially available supplement
which contains a comprehensive mix of vitamins and micronutrients.
Trial participants were followed-up every 12 weeks for a total of
48 weeks.
The
results at 48 weeks showed that the death rate among HIV-infected
adults with CD4 counts below 200 who took Immunace® was significantly
lower than those who took placebo. There was no impact on CD4 count
or plasma viral load.
While
earlier observational studies have pointed to a link between micronutrient
deficiencies in HIV-infected individuals and a faster progression
to death, this study is the first to assess the effect of supplementation
on death rates. The study also highlights the need to measure actual
clinical benefits in individuals taking micronutrient supplements
rather than simply looking for changes in biochemical markers.
Dr
Shabbar Jaffar, of The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,
who lead the research team, says, "More research is needed to establish
the mechanism for increased survival with micronutrients." He adds,
"These results could have important implications for public health
and the treatment and care of HIV-infected individuals in developing
countries where nutritional deficiencies and access to potent antiretroviral
combinations remain limited."
Immunace®,
from Vitabiotics Ltd, is a patent-pending combination of micronutrients
that has been specifically formulated to help maintain resistance
to infection and optimal cell defence, helping maintain long-term
immune defence at the cellular level. Immunace is available as a
food supplement without prescription on the UK high street from
larger Boots stores, health food stores and chemists, or purchased
directly from Vitabiotics.
A
full copy of the study, "A randomised trial of the impact of multiple
micronutrient supplementation on mortality among HIV-infected individuals
living in Bangkok," is published in the AIDS, November 21,
2003, Volume 17, Issue 17. (See AIDS
online.)
Immunace®'s
patent-pending formula contains vitamins, A, D, E, C, K and B complex
vitamins together with natural carotenoids, amino acids, and minerals
including copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, and selenium.
Immunace®
is classed as a food supplement in the UK. It is free from artificial
colours, preservatives, gluten, starch, fat and yeast, and is produced
under fully licensed pharmaceutical manufacture according to strict
quality control. It was developed without testing on animals.
AIDS Statistics
- People
newly infected with HIV in 2002: 5 million
- AIDS
deaths in 2002: 3 million (over 8,000 deaths per day)
- Estimated
number of people living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2002: 42 million
- Total
of AIDS deaths at the end of 2002: 28.1 million
- Total
number of AIDS orphans: 13.2 million
Source
UNAIDS
& Vitabiotics Ltd. (www.vitabiotics.com).
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