As discussed in the last section, it is common for HIV-positive people to have multiple nutrient deficiencies, even early on in the course of infection. Researchers have reported that, in both children and adults, deficiencies of zinc, selenium, copper, B-6, and B-12 (all of which are important for an intact immune response) are common in HIV-positive people, even before their immune system becomes damaged. In people with AIDS, nearly every specific nutrient is deficient. Researchers have also reported that these deficiencies appear to speed disease progression and that replenishing these nutrients (including B-6, B-12, and zinc) can actually help boost CD4 (T4 cell) counts.
Many other researchers have reported that deficiencies of glutathione and other important antioxidants (including vitamins C and E and the mineral selenium) are common. This is most likely because one of the body's responses to infection is the creation of unstable molecules, usually referred to as "free radicals," which are intended to destroy viruses and other disease-causing germs. These free radicals serve an important immune purpose but after their mission is carried out, they need to be countered by antioxidant nutrients in order to stop a chain reaction that could otherwise damage the body. So-called "oxidative stress" results when insufficient antioxidants are present to counter oxidative damage to cells and tissues in the body. Researchers have shown that oxidative stress is very common in both HIV disease and hepatitis C, and is a factor in progression of both diseases. Keeping optimal levels of antioxidants in the body is crucial to lessen oxidative stress and prevent body damage.
The amount of this oxidative damage increases early in HIV disease, and tends to worsen over time. For example, studies have shown that decreased levels of glutathione, the most important antioxidant found in cells, occur within weeks of HIV infection. The lowered levels of glutathione lead to immune cell dysfunction in multiple ways, and allow body cells and tissues to become damaged from the oxidative stress. In fact, researchers have shown that lowered levels of glutathione are strongly tied to an increased risk for disease progression. Insufficient glutathione also means that the liver is less able to properly break down drugs and other toxins, increasing the potential for liver damage from meds. Thus, boosting glutathione levels is important for anyone living with HIV.
Search for news stories about this topic