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Researchers believe that
supplementation with prebiotics and probiotics can help lower the risk of
infection and inflammation for HIV patients taking antiretroviral drugs (ARVs).
Jason Brenchley, of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease,
and others were aware that people treated with ARVs have a higher mortality
rate than uninfected individuals, and that HIV infection causes
gastrointestinal (GI) tract damage, microbial translocation, and immune
activation. Based on the results of the research, the team suggested that
pre-and probiotics could provide adjunctive therapy for HIV infection that is
well tolerated and inexpensive.
Brenchley and colleagues treated
macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a model of the human
infection, with either ARVs alone or ARVs in combination with a symbiotic
mixture of probiotics and prebiotics. Seven SIV-infected macaques received the
symbiotic mixture of prebiotic inulin and a probiotic for 60 days. These
macaques were found to have GI immune function and decreased inflammation
compared to the control group. The subjects who received probiotics showed
increased frequency and functionality of the GI tract. According to Brenchley
and colleagues, symbiotic treatment resulted in increased frequency and
functionality of GI tract APCs, enhanced reconstitution of and functionality of
CD+ T cells, and reduced fibrosis of lymphoid follicles in the colon.
The study, “Probiotic/Prebiotic
Supplementation of Antiretrovirals Improves Gastrointestinal Immunity in
SIV-Infected Macaques," was published online ahead of print in the Journal
of Clinical Investigation (doi: 10.1172/JCI66227).
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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