title: Effect of bovine colostrum-based food supplement in the treatment of HIV-associated diarrhea in Northern Uganda: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  HIV-associated diarrhea is common in HIV/AIDS patients in developing countries. An earlier uncontrolled study showed that a nutritional product made from bovine colostrum (ColoPlus®) alleviates HIV-associated diarrhea. We performed a randomized single-blind controlled trial of addition of colostrum-based supplement (ColoPlus®) to standard anti-diarrhea treatment in HIV/AIDS patients with diarrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-seven adult patients with HIV-associated diarrhea were recruited at Gulu Hospital and four community clinics in Northern Uganda. Forty-five patients were randomized to receive 50 g of colostrum-based supplement twice a day for 4 weeks in addition to standard anti-diarrhea treatment, and 42 patients received standard anti-diarrhea treatment alone. Patients were followed up for 9 weeks. Daily stool frequency was recorded, and body weight and body mass index were evaluated at weeks 1, 4 and 9. Baseline CD4+ count was measured at baseline and at week 9.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean daily stool frequency decreased by 79% from 7.5 to 1.3 motions over the study period in patients on colostrum-based supplement, compared to a 58% reduction in controls (p < 0.001). Self-reported fatigue was reduced by 85% in patients on colostrum-based supplement by week 9 compared to 43% reduction amongst controls (p < 0.001). Patients on colostrum-based supplement had 11% increase (p < 0,001) in mean body weight and body mass index by week 9, but no changes were observed in control subjects. Mean CD4+ count increased by 14% for patients on colostrum-based supplement, in contrast to 12% decrease in controls (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that addition of colostrum-based supplement to standard therapy is effective in treatment of HIV-associated diarrhea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Gulu University Faculty of Medicine, Gulu, Uganda.
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Kaducu
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Okia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Upenytho
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elfstrand
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Florén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002417:Cattle; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003906:Developing Countries; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D019053:HIV Enteropathy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014454:Uganda
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals