A Preliminary Trial of Beta-Carotene in Subjects Infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus ,

Abstract

beta-Carotene is a nontoxic carotenoid with immunomodulating properties in animals and humans. Based on our observations in normal immunocompetent subjects, we studied the effects of this compound in 11 patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Each subject received 60 mg of beta-carotene daily for 4 mo. Clinical and laboratory studies were obtained at baseline, every month while on treatment and for 2 mo after treatment. Increases in the percent of cells expressing Leu 11 (natural killer cells), Ia antigen and transferrin receptor (activated lymphocytes) were observed after 3 mo of treatment with beta-carotene and diminished thereafter. Major changes were not seen in total lymphocyte count or in the percent of cells expressing CD11, CD8 or CD4 antigens. No clinical toxicity was observed. These data suggest that beta-carotene can modulate certain immune markers in HIV-infected subjects. Further study of this compound in HIV infection may be warranted.

Low-dose supplementation with lycopene or β-carotene does not enhance cell-mediated immunity in healthy free-living elderly humans

“…The results from the studies of disease groups should be interpreted with care, bearing in mind the dif®culty in controlling these trials adequately. This may account for the increase in the percentage NK cells at 3 months, but not at 4 months in an uncontrolled b-carotene supplementation trial of HIV patients (Garewal et al, 1992). The controlled studies in healthy volunteers that do report a positive effect of b-carotene on lymphocyte subsets, also contain some anomalous ®ndings.…”

“…In human studies, van Poppel et al (1993) reported an increase in lymphocyte proliferation in PHA-stimulated cultures but not in Con A-stimulated cultures following dietary supplementation with 20 mg b-carotene daily for 14 weeks. b-Carotene, or vitamin C, depletion ± repletion studies have failed to show an effect on lymphocyte proliferation in response in healthy volunteers (Jacob et al, 1991;Daudu et al, 1994) and immunocompromised groups also fail to show consistent improvements in lymphocyte proliferation in response to supplementation (Garewal et al, 1992;Zhang et al, 1995).…”

“…Data from studies of immunocompromised or nutritionally compromised groups supports a role for an enhanced immune response following supplementation with dietary antioxidants, including ascorbic acid, vitamin E and bcarotene (Jacob et al, 1991;Prabhala et al, 1991;Garewal et al, 1992;van Poppel et al, 1993). Several studies have shown that the immune response of healthy elderly volunteers is also enhanced by supplements containing dietary antioxidants (Meydani et al, 1990;Chandra, 1992;Santos et al, 1996).…”

Update: Effects of Antioxidant and Non-Antioxidant Vitamin Supplementation on Immune Function

“…In non-controlled trials of ␤-carotene supplementation, the proportion of NK cells was significantly increased from baseline after supplementation in patients with oral leukoplakia (N ϭ 16; 40 mg/d for 6 months), 115 but not in HIV-positive patients (N ϭ 11; 60 mg/d for 4 months) 116 or in healthy adult women (N ϭ 9; 15 mg/d for 28 days). 117 RCTs have shown little effect of supplementation with ␤-carotene on the proportion or absolute number of circulating NK cells in several populations (Table 3; .…”

A community randomized controlled clinical trial of mixed carotenoids and micronutrient supplementation of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

“…In small studies, b-carotene supplementation of HIV-seropositive individuals has no conclusive effect on viral load and immune cell subsets (Garewal et al, 1992;Coodley et al, 1993bCoodley et al, , 1996Silverman et al, 1994;Fryburg et al, 1995;Nimmagadda et al, 1998). b-Carotene supplementation alleviates acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related and erythropoietic protoporphyria-related symptoms (Bianchi-Santamaria et al, 1992;Mathews-Roth, 2000), and may reduce pregnancy-related mortality in combination with vitamin A (West et al, 1999).…”