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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
•Last Updated: July 6, 2023
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks cells within the immune system, which results in a decreased ability to fight off infection. An HIV infection can progress to a disease called Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) falls under theImmunity & Infectious Diseasecategory.
Last Updated:July 6, 2023
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks white blood cells in the immune system, which makes the body susceptible to infections and diseases. If untreated, HIV infection can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Two to 4 weeks after infection, individuals may experience mild, flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and fatigue. Over time, the HIV virus weakens the immune system and potentially leadis to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and opportunistic infections like tuberculosis and certain cancers.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is diagnosed using a blood test, including rapid antibody tests. A positive result from an antibody test requires confirmation with a laboratory test.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is primarily treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), which involves taking antiretroviral medications to slow the virus's replication and help the immune system recover. Although ART does not cure HIV infection, it can reduce the virus to nearly undetectable levels, which significantly lowers the risk of transmission.
No supplements are known to affect the human immunodeficiency virus or restore immune health, but multivitamins may slow disease progression in people with vitamin deficiencies; additionally, protein supplements can can help with a low protein intake, and probiotics may improve CD4 counts and reduce medication side effects.
Nutrition counseling can help ensure adequate nutrition for people with human immunodeficiency virus; this counseling emphasizes a varied diet with sufficient protein, vitamins, and minerals. In low-income areas with limited food variety, a multivitamin may be recommended.
Ongoing research is exploring injectable long-acting antiretrovirals and implants for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment. Additionally, there are reports of several individuals who are in remission from HIV after receiving stem cell transplants, which suggests potential avenues for a cure.
Human immunodeficiency virus is transmitted through the bodily fluids of infected individuals, primarily through unprotected sexual contact, but also via contaminated blood and from mother to child during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding.
Research FeedRead all studies
- ^HIV(MedlinePlus)
- ^AIDS and opportunistic infections(May 2021)
- ^Fawzi WW, Msamanga GI, Spiegelman D, Wei R, Kapiga S, Villamor E, Mwakagile D, Mugusi F, Hertzmark E, Essex M, Hunter DJA randomized trial of multivitamin supplements and HIV disease progression and mortality.N Engl J Med.(2004-Jul-01)
- ^Carpenter CL, Kapur K, Ramakrishna P, Pamujula S, Yadav K, Giovanni JE, Julian O, Ekstrand ML, Sinha S, Nyamathi AMLean Mass Improvement from Nutrition Education and Protein Supplementation among Rural Indian Women Living with HIV/AIDS: Results from Cluster Randomized Factorial Trial at 18-Month Follow-Up.Nutrients.(2021-Dec-30)
- ^Sachdeva M, Sra HK, Agarwal A, Chauhan A, Pradhan P, Singh M, Singh MEffect of Probiotics on the Frequency of CD4+ T-Cells in HIV-Infected Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.J Trop Pediatr.(2022-Feb-03)
- ^Nyamathi A, Sinha S, Ganguly KK, Ramakrishna P, Suresh P, Carpenter CLImpact of protein supplementation and care and support on body composition and CD4 count among HIV-infected women living in rural India: results from a randomized pilot clinical trial.AIDS Behav.(2013-Jul)
- ^Thoueille P, Choong E, Cavassini M, Buclin T, Decosterd LALong-acting antiretrovirals: a new era for the management and prevention of HIV infection.J Antimicrob Chemother.(2022-Feb-02)
- ^Hsu J, Van Besien K, Glesby MJ, Pahwa S, Coletti A, Warshaw MG, Petz L, Moore TB, Chen YH, Pallikkuth S, Dhummakupt A, Cortado R, Golner A, Bone F, Baldo M, Riches M, Mellors JW, Tobin NH, Browning R, Persaud D, Bryson Y,HIV-1 remission and possible cure in a woman after haplo-cord blood transplant.Cell.(2023-Mar-16)
- HIV Viral Load - J J Feiner, M A McNurlan, R E Ferris, D C Mynarcik, M C GelatoChromium picolinate for insulin resistance in subjects with HIV disease: a pilot studyDiabetes Obes Metab.(2008 Feb)
- Glycemic Control - Aghdassi E, Arendt BM, Salit IE, Mohammed SS, Jalali P, Bondar H, Allard JPIn patients with HIV-infection, chromium supplementation improves insulin resistance and other metabolic abnormalities: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trialCurr HIV Res.(2010 Mar)
- HIV Viral Load - Fredriksen J, Ueland T, Dyrøy E, Halvorsen B, Melby K, Melbye L, Skalhegg BS, Bohov P, Skorve J, Berge RK, Aukrust P, Frøland SSLipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects of tetradecylthioacetic acid in HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapyEur J Clin Invest.(2004 Oct)
- HIV Viral Load - Leite RD, Lima NL, Leite CA, Farhat CK, Guerrant RL, Lima AAImprovement of intestinal permeability with alanyl-glutamine in HIV patients: a randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trialArq Gastroenterol.(2013 Jan-Mar)
- HIV Viral Load - Byakwaga H, Kelly M, Purcell DF, French MA, Amin J, Lewin SR, Haskelberg H, Kelleher AD, Garsia R, Boyd MA, Cooper DA, Emery S, CORAL Study GroupIntensification of antiretroviral therapy with raltegravir or addition of hyperimmune bovine colostrum in HIV-infected patients with suboptimal CD4+ T-cell response: a randomized controlled trialJ Infect Dis.(2011 Nov 15)
- CD4 Lymphocytes - Florén CH, Chinenye S, Elfstrand L, Hagman C, Ihse IColoPlus, a new product based on bovine colostrum, alleviates HIV-associated diarrhoeaScand J Gastroenterol.(2006 Jun)
- CD4 Lymphocytes - Kaducu FO, Okia SA, Upenytho G, Elfstrand L, Florén CHEffect of bovine colostrum-based food supplement in the treatment of HIV-associated diarrhea in Northern Uganda: a randomized controlled trialIndian J Gastroenterol.(2011 Dec)
- Diarrhea Symptoms - P D Greenberg, J P CelloTreatment of severe diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum with oral bovine immunoglobulin concentrate in patients with AIDSJ Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol.(1996 Dec 1)
- Diarrhea Symptoms - Rump JA, Arndt R, Arnold A, Bendick C, Dichtelmüller H, Franke M, Helm EB, Jäger H, Kampmann B, Kolb PTreatment of diarrhoea in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with immunoglobulins from bovine colostrumClin Investig.(1992 Jul)
- CD4 Lymphocytes - Calabrese C, Berman SH, Babish JG, Ma X, Shinto L, Dorr M, Wells K, Wenner CA, Standish LJA phase I trial of andrographolide in HIV positive patients and normal volunteersPhytother Res.(2000 Aug)
- CD4 Lymphocytes - Kalikar MV, Thawani VR, Varadpande UK, Sontakke SD, Singh RP, Khiyani RKImmunomodulatory effect of Tinospora cordifolia extract in human immuno-deficiency virus positive patientsIndian J Pharmacol.(2008 Jun)
- CD4 Lymphocytes - Barry M Bredt, Dana Higuera-Alhino, Starley B Shade, Samuel J Hebert, Joseph M McCune, Donald I AbramsShort-term effects of cannabinoids on immune phenotype and function in HIV-1-infected patientsJ Clin Pharmacol.(2002 Nov)
- Analgesic Use - Ronald J Ellis, Will Toperoff, Florin Vaida, Geoffrey van den Brande, James Gonzales, Ben Gouaux, Heather Bentley, J Hampton AtkinsonSmoked medicinal cannabis for neuropathic pain in HIV: a randomized, crossover clinical trialNeuropsychopharmacology.(2009 Feb)
- Leptin - Riggs PK, Vaida F, Rossi SS, Sorkin LS, Gouaux B, Grant I, Ellis RJA pilot study of the effects of cannabis on appetite hormones in HIV-infected adult menBrain Res.(2012 Jan 11)
- Glycemic Control - Marcel AK, Ekali LG, Eugene S, Arnold OE, Sandrine ED, von der Weid D, Gbaguidi E, Ngogang J, Mbanya JCThe effect of Spirulina platensis versus soybean on insulin resistance in HIV-infected patients: a randomized pilot studyNutrients.(2011 Jul)
- Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) - Fatemeh Naeini, Meysam Zarezadeh, Sara Mohiti, Helda Tutunchi, Mehrangiz Ebrahimi Mamaghani, Alireza OstadrahimiSpirulina supplementation as an adjuvant therapy in enhancement of antioxidant capacity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trialsInt J Clin Pract.(2021 Jul 8)
- Weight - Wolf BW, Wheeler KB, Ataya DG, Garleb KASafety and tolerance of Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation to a population infected with the human immunodeficiency virusFood Chem Toxicol.(1998 Dec)
- Triglycerides - Thusgaard M, Christensen JH, Mørn B, Andersen TS, Vige R, Arildsen H, Schmidt EB, Nielsen HEffect of fish oil (n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) on plasma lipids, lipoproteins and inflammatory markers in HIV-infected patients treated with antiretroviral therapy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyScand J Infect Dis.(2009)
- Triglycerides - Oliveira JM, Rondó PHOmega-3 fatty acids and hypertriglyceridemia in HIV-infected subjects on antiretroviral therapy: systematic review and meta-analysisHIV Clin Trials.(2011 Sep-Oct)
- Total cholesterol - Swanson B, Keithley JK, Sha BE, Fogg L, Nerad J, Novak RM, Adeyemi O, Spear GTPolicosanol for managing human immunodeficiency virus-related dyslipidemia in a medically underserved population: a randomized, controlled clinical trialAltern Ther Health Med.(2011 Mar-Apr)
- Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - Jariwalla RJ, Lalezari J, Cenko D, Mansour SE, Kumar A, Gangapurkar B, Nakamura DRestoration of blood total glutathione status and lymphocyte function following alpha-lipoic acid supplementation in patients with HIV infectionJ Altern Complement Med.(2008 Mar)
- Muscle Mass - Abrams DI, Shade SB, Couey P, McCune JM, Lo J, Bacchetti P, Chang B, Epling L, Liegler T, Grant RMDehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) effects on HIV replication and host immunity: a randomized placebo-controlled studyAIDS Res Hum Retroviruses.(2007 Jan)