Hepatoprotective and immune-reconstitution potentials of carrot-ginger blend among HIV-infected patients taking antiretroviral therapy in Kaduna, Nigeria

Hepatotoxicity, micronutrients insufficiency and cost of micronutrient supplements are challenges faced by HIV infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study investigated the effect of natural plant micronutrients (vitamins A, C, and E, selenium and Zinc supplements from carrot-ginger (75:25) blend on liver enzymes: Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate transaminase (AST), CD4 + T lymphocytes and body mass index (BMI) of HIV-infected-patients taking ART. Ninety HIV-infected-patients attending Special Treatment Clinic, Kafanchan General Hospital, Kaduna State, Nigeria, were randomized into three groups of thirty patients each: Group 1 is control group and received ART alone, Group 2 is standard group and received ART with ready to use commercial micronutrient supplement (SelACER supplement) while Group 3 is supplement group and received ART + Carrot-Ginger blend for 90 days. Serum Alanine, Aspartate transaminase, CD4 + T lymphocytes and BMI were assessed using standard methods at baseline (day 0), 30 days, 60 days and 90 days. The results indicated that patients on CarrotGinger blend and SelACER micronutrients supplements show significant (p<0.05) reduction in ALT and AST level. However, there was no significant (p>0.05) difference in patients treated with ART alone when compared to their baseline values. The results indicated that patients on carrot-ginger blend and SelACE® supplements had significant (p<0.05) increase in BMI, CD4+ T-cell counts, serum vitamins A, C, E, selenium and zinc from day zero. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in patients treated with ART alone compared to their baseline values. In addition, patients on SelACE® supplement revealed significant (p<0.05) difference in their mean BMI, CD4+ T-cell counts, serum vitamins A, C, E, Selenium and Zinc compared to patients on carrot-ginger blend after 90 days. The results also indicated a strong positive association (r=0.97) between serum ALT and AST activity and between CD4+ T cell counts and body mass index (r=0.77) after 90 days. Therefore, micronutrients supplementation of HIV patients during ART treatment with Carrot-Ginger blend could also be a beneficial adjunct to ART due to its potentials to reconstitute the immune system and protect the liver in HIV individuals on ART.

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Body mass index and early CD4 T-cell recovery among adults initiating antiretroviral therapy in North America, 1998-2010

HIV Medicine ◽

10.1111/hiv.12259 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 16 (9) ◽

pp. 572-577 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

JR Koethe ◽

CA Jenkins ◽

B Lau ◽

BE Shepherd ◽

MJ Silverberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

T Cell ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

North America ◽

Body Mass ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Cell Recovery

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Self-reported Cannabis Use and Changes in Body Mass Index, CD4 T-Cell Counts, and HIV-1 RNA Suppression in Treated Persons with HIV

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-019-02430-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 1275-1280

Author(s):

James T. Lee ◽

Lauren A. Saag ◽

Aaron M. Kipp ◽

James Logan ◽

Bryan E. Shepherd ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

T Cell ◽

Body Mass ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Hiv 1

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Low CD4+ T-cell counts in HIV patients receiving effective antiretroviral therapy are associated with CD4+ T-cell activation and senescence but not with lower effector memory T-cell function

Clinical Immunology ◽

10.1016/j.clim.2006.04.570 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 120 (2) ◽

pp. 163-170 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Sonia Fernandez ◽

Patricia Price ◽

Elizabeth J. McKinnon ◽

Richard C. Nolan ◽

Martyn A. French

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

T Cell Activation ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Cell Function ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Effector Memory ◽

Hiv Patients ◽

Memory T Cell ◽

Cell Counts

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Persistence of Genital Tract T Cell Responses in HIV-Infected Women on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00518-10 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 84 (20) ◽

pp. 10765-10772 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Nonhlanhla N. Mkhize ◽

Pamela P. Gumbi ◽

Lenine J. Liebenberg ◽

Yuan Ren ◽

Peter Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Genital Tract ◽

T Cell Responses ◽

Antiretroviral Drugs ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Cell Responses ◽

Highly Active ◽

Cell Counts

ABSTRACT Initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV-infected individuals is associated with control of viremia, improved CD4 counts, and declining systemic HIV-specific immune responses. While HAART effectively reduces plasma viremia, it remains unclear how effectively antiretroviral drugs reach mucosal surfaces, such as those of the genital tract. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of HAART on genital tract CD4 T cell reconstitution, HIV shedding, and HIV-specific T cell responses. Cervical cytobrush and blood specimens were obtained from 35 HIV-infected, HAART-naïve women and 27 women on HAART in order to investigate HIV Gag-specific T cell responses by intracellular gamma interferon (IFN-γ) staining. Interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and IL-8 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). We show that for HIV-infected women, HAART is associated with significantly improved CD4 T cell counts both in blood and at the cervix. While HAART effectively suppressed both blood and cervical viremia, HIV-specific CD8 T cell responses in blood were lost, while those at the cervix were preserved.

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PIMATM point-of-care testing for CD4 counts in predicting antiretroviral initiation in HIV-infected individuals in KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine ◽

10.4102/sajhivmed.v17i1.444 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mandisa Skhosana ◽

Shabashini Reddy ◽

Tarylee Reddy ◽

Siphelele Ntoyanto ◽

Elizabeth Spooner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Cell Count ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Kwazulu Natal ◽

Cd4 T Cell Count

Introduction: Limited information is available on the usefulness of the PIMATM analyser in predicting antiretroviral treatment eligibility and outcome in a primary healthcare clinic setting in disadvantaged communities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Materials and methods: The study was conducted under the eThekwini Health Unit, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Comparison of the enumeration of CD4+ T-cells in 268 patients using the PIMATM analyser and the predicate National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) was undertaken during January to July 2013. Bland-Altman analysis to calculate bias and limits of agreement, precision and levels of clinical misclassification at various CD4+ T-cell count thresholds was performed.Results: There was high precision of the PIMATM control bead cartridges with low and normal CD4+ T-cell counts using three different PIMATM analysers (%CV < 5). Under World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines (≤ 500 cells/mm3), the sensitivity of the PIMATM analyser was 94%, specificity 78% and positive predictive value (PPV) 95%. There were 24 (9%) misclassifications, of which 13 were false-negative in whom the mean bias was 149 CD4+ T-cells/mm3. Most (87%) patients returned for their CD4 test result but only 67% (110/164) of those eligible (≤ 350 cells/mm3) were initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with a time to treatment of 49 days (interquartile range [IQR], 42–64 days).Conclusion: There was adequate agreement between PIMATM analyser and predicate NHLS CD4+ T-cell count enumeration (≤ 500 cells/mm3) in adult HIV-positive individuals. The high PPV, sensitivity and acceptable specificity of the PIMATM analyser technology lend it as a reliable tool in predicting eligibility and rapid linkage to care in ART programmes.Keywords: HIV; Point of Care; PIMATM CD4+ T cell counts; antiretroviral therapy; prediction/eligibility; South Africa

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