Effects of Spirulina platensis supplementation on lipid profile in HIV-infected antiretroviral naïve patients in Yaounde-Cameroon: a randomized trial study

• Published in: Lipids in health and disease 2014-12, Vol.13 (1), p.191-191, Article 191
• Main Authors: Ngo-Matip, Marthe-Elise, Pieme, Constant Anatole, Azabji-Kenfack, Marcel, Biapa, Prosper Cabral Nya, Germaine, Nkenfack, Heike, Englert, Moukette, Bruno Moukette, Emmanuel, Korosky, Philippe, Stefanini, Mbofung, Carl Moses, Ngogang, Jeanne Yonkeu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adult; AIDS; Cameroon; Cardiovascular disease; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Dietary Supplements; Dyslipidemias - prevention & control; Female; HIV; HIV Infections - blood; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Lipids; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Single-Blind Method; Spirulina; Spirulina platensis; Studies; Treatment Outcome; Triglycerides - blood
• ISSN: 1476-511X; 1476-511X
• DOI: 10.1186/1476-511X-13-191

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and metabolic alterations are among the majors public health concern that have been reported in people living with HIV infections. Factors contributing to cardio metabolic syndrome in HIV include body fat distribution, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, cardiovascular dysfunction and inflammation. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of Spirulina platensis (Cyanobacteriaceae) supplementation versus local diet on lipid profile in HIV-infected antiretroviral-naive patients. A prospective single-blind, randomized, multicentre study was conducted from February 2010 to December 2012. A total of 320 HIV antiretroviral-naïve patients were screened and 169 were recruited in this study. Patients were randomized and received either Spirulina supplementation combined with local diet (n=82) or local diet only (n=87). Age, weight, body mass index (BMI), lipid profile, CD4 count, and local food intake variables were assessed on three separate occasions (three, six and twelve months). An average age of the patients was 35.6±9 years. The majority of participants were female 67.1%. Regarding the lipid profile, there is a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol and a significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in the group of patients who consumed Spirulina platensis. A change in the atherogenic index defined by the ratio CT/HDL-C substitutable by LDL-C/HDL-C and the TC/HDL decreased significantly from 10.83 at baseline to 2.22 after 12 months (p=0.21 and p