14 DAY TRIAL // Boosting carotenoids in everyday diet or taking a daily high-dose of carotenoid supplements may help people with AIDS, according to a recent study carried out by Canadian researchers. However, this does not mean that carotenoid supplements are going to replace medical treatment used until now for easing symptoms in sufferers. Due to their efficiency in reducing 'overall mortality', the micronutrients may be used from now on as an alternative method to antiretrovial therapy (ART).
The study was run by a team of researchers at the Community Research Initiative of Toronto and their findings have been published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The team led by Professor William Cameron pointed out the fact that the supplementing AIDS patients with carotenoids may only be a potential method, complementary to standard retroviral drugs.
"Today, when antiretroviral therapy (ART) is expected to be successful in most cases, natural mixed carotenoid supplementation may be a potential low-cost intervention for those with inadequate response to conventional treatment or lacking access to ART. In observational studies, low micronutrient concentrations, including vitamin A and carotenoids, are associated with HIV disease progression, mortality and vertical viral transmission, and higher intake with delayed disease progression and survival," wrote Canadian researchers in their paper.
Carotenoids are organic pigments mainly present in plants and their main function is to give the color of the certain plant. However, these chemicals naturally occurring in plants, algae, some types of fungus and bacteria are also very efficient in preventing or treating a wide range of diseases. They are micronutrients and are divided into categories, depending on the color they give to the plant. For instance, the red pigment is known as lycopene, the antocyanines give the blue-violet pgiment in plants, the green pigment is known as lutein, while betacarotene 'colors' plants into yellow or orange.
The study involved 331 HIV-seropositive individuals with ages over 18. Volunteers have been randomly assigned to 2 groups - those in one group received carotenoid supplementation, while those in the other group received a placebo and formed the control group. Participants in the supplementation group received a daily multivitamin, including vitamin A and other micronutrients. The follow-up study lasted for an average period of 18 months and overall results showed that a significant increase occurred in serum carotene of AIDS patients.
Consequently, carotenoids are efficient in improving symptoms of the fearful condition and reducing 'overall mortality.' "Supplementation with micronutrients and natural mixed carotenoids may improve survival by correction of a micronutrient deficiency," noted the team of researchers.
Commenting on the findings of the current study, Bonita de Boer, Information Officer for AVERT - an international HIV and Aids charity based in the UK - also pinpointed the fact that carotenoid supplementations are not meant to replace retroviral drugs, only to be a natural alternative to this medical treatment.
De Boer told NutraIngredients.com: "This research is very interesting and provides further support to previous studies demonstrating the benefits of vitamin A and micronutrient supplementation. It is important to note that the study does not suggest carotenoids should replace antiretroviral drugs, but with further study there may well be a case for introducing them as a supplement alongside standard Aids treatment."
