Human immunodeficiency virus

New HIV infections number in the millions. It is a disease, while often controlled with drugs, that can be both deadly and devastating.

There is some evidence that probiotics may prevent the spread of the virus. here’s how: indirectly by treating and preventing recurrent bacterial vaginosis—a known enabler of HIV– or directly by secreting endogenous and exogenous substances that block HIV transmission.

Also, probiotics help prevent the chronic diarrhea which often comes with HIV. Diarrhea, flatulence and nausea resolved in the entire probiotic-treated group within 2 days, compared to 2 of 12 in the control in a recent study from Nigeria.

And this: yogurt supplemented with probiotics improved CD4 cell counts—immune biomarkers in HIV  Probiotics were able to:

• Maintain mucosa
• Improve antibody response
• Increase white blood cell production

Further reading on HIV and probiotics:

Synbiotic therapy decreases microbial translocation and inflammation and improves immunological status in HIV-infected patients: a double-blind randomized controlled pilot trial.

The effectiveness of probiotics for managing diarrhoea in people with HIV infection: a critically appraised topic.

Effect of probiotic bacteria on microbial host defense, growth, and immune function in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 infection.

Effect of micronutrient and probiotic fortified yogurt on immune-function of anti-retroviral therapy naive HIV patients.

Probiotic yogurt consumption is associated with an increase of CD4 count among people living with HIV/AIDS.

Probiotics: the potential for a live microbicide to prevent HIV.

Yogurt containing probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14 helps resolve moderate diarrhea and increases CD4 count in HIV/AIDS patients.