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"Psyllium
ingestion also reduced plasma triglyceride concentrations in men yet increased
them in postmenopausal women."
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Diet
And HIV Infection
A number of studies published
since our HIV ReSource Review issues on diet and lipodystrophy offer further
information on psyllium and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are
a class of polyunsaturated fatty acids that include alpha-linolenic acid,
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). As noted in
the Jan/Feb 2000 HIV ReSource Review issue, consumption of food containing
omega-3 fatty acids may help to protect people against coronary artery
disease (CAD). Studies also show that EPA and DHA reduce levels of triglycerides.
Investigators recently examined the relationship between dietary linolenic
acid and CAD in 4,584 participants in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute Family Heart Study. In the cross-sectional study, investigators
assessed participants' diets with a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire
and found that a higher intake of either linolenic
or linoleic acid was inversely related to the prevalence of CAD. Another
small one-month
study of psyllium at 15 grams per day reduced plasma LDL-cholesterol
concentrations and did not effect HDL-cholesterol levels. Psyllium ingestion
also reduced plasma triglyceride concentrations in men yet increased them
in postmenopausal women.
Sources
1. Djousse L, Pankow JS,
Eckfeldt JH, Folsom AR, et al. Relation between dietary linolenic acid
and coronary artery disease in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Family Heart Study. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74(5):612-9.
2. Vega-Lopez S, Vidal-Quintanar
RL, Fernandez ML. Sex and hormonal status influence plasma lipid responses
to psyllium. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74(4):435-41. |
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Bone Disorders
The incidence of avascular
necrosis (AVN) is increasing in HIV-infected patients. (1) Although
corticosteroid use is significantly associated with AVN, its
pathogenesis is likely to be multifactorial. (2) Treatment advocate,
Nairy Ghazourian notes that certain preclinical
signs and symptoms signal the presence of AVN. An on-line treatment
information newsletter from Seattle Treatment Education Project notes
what HIV-positive people can do now to lessen the risk of AVN. The
use of shark
cartilage to treat this condition is questionable.
Sources
1. Boyle B. HIV-associated
Risk Factors in the Development of Osteonecrosis. 10 Aug 2001.
2. Glesby MJ, Hoover DR,
Vaamonde CM. Osteonecrosis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency
virus: a case-control study. J Infect Dis 2001;184(4):519-23.
Caffeine appears to have
a role in bone loss based on recent study results. Reports
from a cross-sectional and a 3-year longitudinal study of bone mineral
density (BMD) in 489 postmenopausal women found that those with high
caffeine intakes had significantly higher rates of bone loss at the spine
than did those with low intakes. Investigators reported that women with
the tt genetic variant of VDR (as opposed to the TT genotype) had significantly
higher rates of bone loss at the spine when their caffeine intake was more
than 300 milligrams (18 ounces of brewed coffee per day.
Source: Rapuri
PB, Gallagher JC, Kinyamu HK, Ryschon KL. Caffeine intake increases the
rate of bone loss in elderly women and interacts with vitamin D receptor
genotypes. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74(5):694-700.
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