Document 1069
 DOCN  M94A1069
 TI    Curcumin therapy in HIV-infected patients initially increased CD-4 and
       CD-8 cell counts.
 DT    9412
 AU    Copeland R; Baker D; Wilson H; Staying Healthy With HIV, San Francisco,
       CA 94114.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(2):216 (abstract no. PB0876). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94371506
 AB    OBJECTIVES: To ascertain if curcumin, a compound that inhibits the LTR
       sequence in HIV and decreases viral replication in vitro, can increase
       CD-4 and CD-8 cell counts in HIV-seropositives. METHODS: 18
       self-selected HIV-seropositives, with CD-4 counts ranging from 5 to 615
       and CD-8 cell counts ranging from 283 to 1467, took an average of 2,000
       mg/day of curcumin for an average of 127 days. They reported their CD-4
       and CD-8 cell counts before starting the treatment, at the mid-point and
       at the end of the treatment. This sample was matched with 18
       HIV-seropositives, based on diagnostic group (7 asymptomatic HIV+, 5
       symptomatic HIV+, 5 with AIDS with 0-1 opportunistic infections, and 1
       with AIDS with 2-4 opportunistic infections), sex (1 woman, 17 men),
       race (1 African American, 17 Caucasian), age (within 7 years, average
       age for curcumin group = 41.3, average age for control group = 42.8),
       and overlapping CD-4 cell count ranges. One-tailed paired t-tests were
       run on CD-4 and CD-8 cell count changes for an initial treatment period
       (mean = 83 days) and a longer treatment period (mean = 127 days).
       RESULTS: For the initial treatment period, there was a significant
       increase for those taking curcumin over the matched controls in CD-4
       cell counts (p = 0.029, DF = 17) and in CD-8 cell counts (p = 0.009, DF
       = 5). For the longer period, there was no additional significant
       increase for those taking curcumin over the matched controls in CD-4
       cell counts (p = 0.051, DF = 16) or in CD-8 cell counts (p = 0.367, DF =
       4). No adverse side effects were noted. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of
       HIV-seropositives, curcumin is safe and initially increases the CD-4 and
       CD-8 cell counts. More research is needed, with larger samples and HIV
       RNA tests by PCR, to further clarify the safety, efficacy and dosage of
       curcumin as an antiviral treatment for HIV.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/DRUG THERAPY/IMMUNOLOGY  Adult
       Curcumin/*THERAPEUTIC USE  *CD4-CD8 Ratio  Female  Human  HIV
       Infections/*DRUG THERAPY/IMMUNOLOGY  HIV Seropositivity/DRUG
       THERAPY/IMMUNOLOGY  Male  CLINICAL TRIAL  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).