title: Algae -- a poor man's HAART?
abstract: Drawing inferences from epidemiologic studies of HIV/AIDS and in vivo and in vitro HIV inhibition by algae, we propose algal consumption as one unifying characteristic of countries with anomalously low rates. HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence in Eastern Asia ( approximately 1/10000 adults in Japan and Korea), compared to Africa ( approximately 1/10 adults), strongly suggest that differences in IV drug use and sexual behavior are insufficient to explain the 1000-fold variation. Even in Africa, AIDS/HIV rates vary. Chad has consistently reported low rates of HIV/AIDS (2-4/100). Possibly not coincidentally, most people in Japan and Korea eat seaweed daily and the Kanemba, one of the major tribal groups in Chad, eat a blue green alga (Spirulina) daily. Average daily algae consumption in Asia and Africa ranges between 1 and 2 tablespoons (3-13 g). Regular consumption of dietary algae might help prevent HIV infection and suppress viral load among those infected.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Education and Behavior, The Norman J Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina and the South Carolina Cancer Center, 15 Medical Park, Suite 301 Columbia, SC 29203, USA. jane.teas@palmettohealth.org
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teas
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hebert
authors.forename: J Helen
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Fitton
authors.forename: Paul V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Zimba
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002596:Chad / Q000453:epidemiology; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D044647:Sargassum / Q000378:metabolism; D053545:Spirulina; D044648:Undaria / Q000378:metabolism; D019562:Viral Load / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins