Effect of oral beta -carotene supplementation on plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA levels and CD4 super(+) cell counts in HIV-infected patients

We conducted a pilot, open-label study to assess the effect of short-term beta -carotene administration (180 mg/d with meals for 4 weeks) on the plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA levels and CD4 super(+) lymphocyte counts in 21 HIV-infected patients. We found that plasma HIV RNA levels an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical infectious diseases 1998-11, Vol.27 (5), p.1311-1313
Main Authors: Nimmagadda, AP, Burri, B J, Neidlinger, T, O'Brien, WA, Goetz, M B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Human immunodeficiency virus
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Summary:We conducted a pilot, open-label study to assess the effect of short-term beta -carotene administration (180 mg/d with meals for 4 weeks) on the plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA levels and CD4 super(+) lymphocyte counts in 21 HIV-infected patients. We found that plasma HIV RNA levels and CD4 super(+) lymphocyte counts did not change following this short course of beta -carotene supplementation. Patients with lower serum concentrations of beta -carotene before supplementation were no more likely to have an increase in their CD4 super(+) lymphocyte count or plasma HIV RNA copy number than were those with higher concentrations. No correlation was found between pre- or postsupplementation beta -carotene or vitamin A concentrations and pre- or postsupplementation CD4 super(+) lymphocyte counts or plasma HIV RNA titers. This study provides no support for beta -carotene supplementation for HIV-infected subjects with normal baseline serum levels of beta -carotene and vitamin A.
ISSN:1058-4838