Donna is a New York HIV nutrition specialist at Cabrini Medical Center and is on the advisory board for patient care at Village Center for Care. She is the Chair of the American Dietetic Association's HIV/AIDS Dietetic Practice Group (DPG #29) and is on the Planning Committee of Nutritionists in AIDS Care (NIAC). Besides serving as a Senior Editor for the HIV Nutrition Update, she is a member of the Virtual Faculty for Jennifer Jensen's web site <http://jenniferjensen.com/vf.htm> and the Nutrition Editor at Always Your Choice <http://www.alwaysyourchoice.com/nutritional.html>.
 
 

Nutrition Forum is a place for both clinicians and HIV-positive people to ask questions about the nutritional care  of people living with HIV. Columns highlight the ever-popular Virtual Faculty at Jennifer's Place <http://www.jenniferjensen.com>.

Question: Immunocal
IMMUNOCAL.... Any info on this product? Only ingredient listed on box is Milk Protein Isolate. I have friends who say it works on re-building the immune system of HIV patients. At their web site www.immunocal.com I could only find out that the product includes L-Glutamine, Whey and Cysteine. It cost $99.00 for a month supply and I'm skeptical.

Answer: Chester Myers, PhD, noted:
Whey proteins provide exceptional nutritional quality within the protein category of food components. The sulfur-containing amino acids, an important part of proteins and often somewhat low in many proteins, are particularly rich in whey protein. It is believed that this is a main source of observed improvements in various monitors used to reflect the health of the immune system and muscle mass with use of whey protein.

There are a number of whey products that provide excellent protein. The technology available for isolation, drying and other processing of these products has been under scrutiny, particularly with respect to maintenance of the sulfur-containing amino acids in their 'native' form. When oxidized, these amino acids can become unavailable for the normal body chemistries. Therefore, it is important to minimize oxidation during preparation of whey protein products. I am not aware that there are any clinical trials that have indicated any one product is definitively superior to the others. Some studies have compared whey proteins with non-whey proteins, but this doesn't provide us with information that would justify choosing one particular whey product over other whey products. 

DAAIR (Direct AIDS Access Information Resources) also offers whey protein products.

Sharon Ann Meyer, AS, AA, DTR from HIV ReSources responds:
Whey protein is one of many popular dietary supplements tried by people living with HIV. The National HIV Nutrition Guidelines Working Group is currently investigating the research behind whey protein and a number of other so-called functional foods. We will focus on the working group's findings in future newsletter issues. 

Question: Whey Protein And Dairy Sensitivity
Hi! If someone has a dairy sensitivity or allergy, will they have trouble with whey protein?

Answer: Donna Tinnerello, MS, RD, CDN responds:
Yes, because dairy allergies can mean any component. See Charlie's response below for more information.