title: Features of whey protein concentrate supplementation in children with rapidly progressive HIV infection.
abstract: HIV infection is associated with subnormal GSH levels. An increase in glutathione levels has been observed in HIV-infected adults under oral whey protein supplementation. We studied the features associated with a whey protein concentrate supplementation in children with rapidly progressive AIDS. A prospective double-blind clinical trial was carried out for 4 months with 18 vertically HIV-infected children (1.98-6.37 years), under antiretroviral therapy, who had received whey protein, maltodextrin (placebo) or none. Erythrocyte glutathione concentration, T lymphocyte counts (CD4+ and CD8+) and occurrence of associated co-infections were evaluated. Wilcoxon's and Fischer's Exact tests were used to assess differences between whey protein-supplemented and control (placebo and non-supplemented) groups. A significant median increase of 16.14 mg/dl (p = 0.018) in erythrocyte glutathione levels was observed in the whey protein-supplemented group; the TCD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratio showed a non significant increase and lower occurrence of associated co-infections was also observed. In conclusion, whey protein concentrate supplementation can stimulate glutathione synthesis and, possibly, decrease the occurrence of associated co-infections.
authors: Center for Investigation in Pediatrics (CIPED), Pediatrics Department, and Food and Nutrition Department, Food Engineering School, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Y F
authors: YF
authors: Moreno
authors: V C
authors: VC
authors: Sgarbieri
authors: M N
authors: MN
authors: da Silva
authors: A A D C
authors: AA
authors: Toro
authors: M M S
authors: MM
authors: Vilela
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000151:congenital* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019562:Viral Load; D000067816:Whey Proteins
chemical_list: D008894:Milk Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000067816:Whey Proteins; D005978:Glutathione