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Editor's Corner

HIV Nutrition Update is a bimonthly newsletter of practical and timely nutrition resources. Features present peer-reviewed articles and practice-oriented reviews of essential information for the clinician working in HIV/AIDS care. Information is supplemented by news releases, conference proceedings, and expert recommendations. 

Senior Editors
Nancy Spaulding Albright, RD, LD, CNSD
Wendy Wittenbrook, MA, RD, LD
Donna Tinnerello, MS, RD, CDN

Associate Board
William Palumbo, MS, RD, CDN
Kevin Kelly, RD, LD
Denise Li, BS

Editor-In-Chief
Sharon Ann Meyer, AS, AA, DTR
Editorial contact:
sharon@hivresources.com
URL:  http://www.hivresources.com

Great care is taken to provide reliable information and to note popular sources that HIV-positive people have access to. Readers should check the references listed in articles. Research summaries are not intended for use as the sole source for treatment nor as a substitute for reading the original research. It is up to the reader to obtain and evaluate research findings.

Information in this newsletter should not be construed as an endorsement of any kind. Comments are offered for general guidance only. Newsletter information is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any use of the information is done strictly on your own risk and no responsibility is implied or intended on the part of HIV ReSources Inc., the editors, authors, or the publisher.

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HIV Nutrition Update
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HIV Nutrition Update © (ISSN 1522-4414) 
2001 HIV ReSources, Inc.
  All rights reserved.
THE RATIONALE FOR UTILIZING LAURIC ACID-RICH FOODS AS ADJUNCT THERAPY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HIV POSITIVE.
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time during the course of the disease varies making it difficult, if not impossible, to predict. 

The safety issues are particularly problematic for pregnant women. While AIDS researchers, government agencies, and pharmaceutical companies argue about the safety of drug treatments for HIV+ pregnant women, there is a potential safe adjunct treatment. This method can be helpful because it appears to lower the level of the virus and raise the CD4 and CD8 T-cell levels without adverse side effects. It also appears to be effective in lowering viral load without introducing adverse side effects such as the lipodystrophy seen with the multiple protease inhibitor drug cocktail treatment. A comprehensive overview of many aspects of this adjunct treatment can be found on the Center for Research on Lauric Oils, Inc. web site at <http://www.lauric.org/>. Editor's Note: See page seven for more information on this web site, which offers visitors an opportunity to enter a clinical trial.
WHAT IS THIS ADJUNCT TREATMENT?

This safe adjunct treatment is the lauric acid monoglyceride called monolaurin, which can be formed in the body from the lauric acid found in certain foods. It is the lauric acid portion of coconut products, including the foods made of whole coconut, desiccated coconut (macaroons), coconut cream,
A lowering of the viral load in HIV+ individuals has the potential for preventing the progression to AIDS.
coconut milk, and of course coconut oil that provide the potential treatment benefit. Palm kernel oil and babassu oil (Brazilian oil extracted from a type of palm tree that grows in Brazil; it has about 50% lauric acid.), which are also lauric oils, provide the same benefit as coconut oil, although they do not have the same potential for simple use in diets compared to coconut products. Provision of adequate lauric acid from dietary sources to the HIV+ adult, child, or infant enhances the formation of monolaurin. Information about this adjunct treatment should be made available to every HIV+ individual, especially to pregnant women and to caregivers of HIV+ children. Moderate amounts of lauric oils were in the U.S. food supply before the 1980s, until they were largely replaced by partially hydrogenated soybean and canola oils. The detailed history and protocol has been published (1) and is reviewed on the Internet at <http://www.lauric.org/>. 
 
 

WHY IS THIS ADJUNCT TREATMENT IMPORTANT?


A lowering of the viral load in HIV+ individuals has the potential for preventing the progression to AIDS. Lowering the viral load in pregnant women has the potential for preventing vertical transmission of HIV to the infant.