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Lauric.org
has a Proof-of-Concept Trial Preliminary Budget Cost Form on its web site
for institutions to fill out if they are interested in participating and
would like to be considered as a possible site. The proposed HIV/AIDS (A-0114)
Proof-of-Concept Trial will use pharmacologically naive participants and
those individuals whom have failed treatment. The six-month study will
test the use of lauric fats in the diet as physiologically functional foods
to lower viral load and P24 antigen in HIV-infected individuals and to
raise CD4 T-cells and/or CD4/CD8 T-cell ratios. The study will also determine
subjective sense of well-being. Participants must be HIV-positive with
an elevated viral load that is sufficiently elevated so that a measure
of reduction could be determined. They must have a low CD4 T-cell count
or a low CD4/CD8 value. HIV-positive individuals on many drugs including
protease inhibitors and whose viral loads have been reduced to a level
that is not measurable are excluded from the study. After the determination
of laboratory values, participants will receive a supply of lauric fats
previously determined to contain sufficient amounts of lauric and capric
acid to provide 24-28 grams and 3-4 grams per person per day, respectively.
For
more information on the Proof-of-Concept Trial and lauric acid visit <http://www.lauric.org/>.
Source: HIV/AIDS
Clinical Trials. Lauric.org Homepage. Bethesda, MD: Center For Research
On Lauric Oils, Inc. WWW: http://www.lauric.org/
(accessed 8 June 2001).
HAART And Anemia
Richard Semba and colleagues
recently conducted a longitudinal study of HIV-infected intravenous drug
users (IVDUs) in Baltimore, Maryland to examine the potential impact of
highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on anemia. Previous studies
have shown that 15 to 30 percent of HIV-infected drug users may have anemia.
A variety of etiologic factors are implicated in anemia including antiretroviral
therapy, micronutrient deficiencies, anemia of chronic diseases, etc. Semba
and colleagues thought that HAART may either worsen anemia, through increased
bone marrow toxicity, or improve it through potential mechanisms, such
as the improvement in micronutrient status or reduction of opportunistic
infections (OIs) and associated anemia of chronic disease.
Investigators enrolled
102 subjects who received HAART and 103 control subjects who did not receive
antiretroviral medications. Participants had a CD4+ lymphocyte count of
less than 500 cells/l in 1996. Hemoglobin, measured at baseline and at
two subsequent visits, was low in 40% of the participants at baseline.
Participants not receiving HAART had a mean decrease in hemoglobin of
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