title: Effect of micronutrient and probiotic fortified yogurt on immune-function of anti-retroviral therapy naive HIV patients.
abstract: Micronutrient supplementation has been shown to reduce the progression of HIV but does not have an effect on the intestinal barrier or the intestinal microbiota of HIV patients. Studies have suggested that probiotics could potentially complement micronutrients in preserving the immune-function of HIV patients.
  
  
  
  Assess the impact of micronutrient supplemented probiotic yogurt on the immune function of HIV patients.
  
  
  
  We performed a randomized, double blind, controlled trial with CD4 count as primary outcome among HIV patients naïve to anti-retroviral treatment. Secondary outcomes included hematological parameters, incidence of diarrhea and clinical symptoms. A total of 112 HIV patients were randomized to receive a micronutrient fortified yogurt with (n = 55) or without additional probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 (n = 57) for four weeks.
  
  
  
  An average decline in CD4 count of -70 cells/μL (95% CI: -154 to -15) was observed in the micronutrient, probiotic group versus a decrease of -63 cells/μL (95% CI: -157 to -30) in the micronutrient control group (p = 0.9). Additional probiotic supplementation was well tolerated and not associated with adverse events. No difference between groups was detected in incidence of diarrhea or clinical symptoms. An improvement of hemoglobin levels was observed for all subjects, based upon a mean difference from baseline of 1.4 g/L (SD = 6) (p = 0.02).
  
  
  
  The addition of probiotics to a micronutrient fortified yogurt was well tolerated by HIV patients but was not associated with a further increase in CD4 count after one month.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. rubenhummelen@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hummelen
authors.forename: Jaimie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hemsworth
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Changalucha
authors.forename: Nicodemus L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Butamanya
authors.forename: Sharareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hekmat
authors.forename: J Dik F
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Habbema
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015014:Yogurt
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; D018977:Micronutrients