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document
Beta-carotene in HIV infection . beta-Carotene has been reported to have an immunostimulatory effect . Recent studies suggest that beta-carotene supplementation can increase CD4 counts in HIV-infected patients . Our double-blind , placebo-controlled clinical trial was designed to test the efficacy of beta-carotene in raising CD4 counts in HIV-infected patients . Twenty-one HIV-seropositive patients were randomized to receive either beta-carotene , 180 mg/day or placebo for 4 weeks , and then crossed over to receive the alternative treatment for the following 4 weeks . beta-Carotene resulted in a statistically significant increase in total WBC count ( p = 0.01 ) , % change in CD4 count ( p = 0.02 ) , and % change in CD4/CD8 ratios ( p = 0.02 ) compared to placebo . The absolute CD4 count , absolute CD4/CD8 ratio , and total and B-lymphocytes all increased on carotene and fell during placebo , but these differences did not reach statistical significance . No toxicity was observed on either treatment . beta-Carotene appears to have an immunostimulatory effect in HIV-infected patients . Further studies are needed to demonstrate whether beta-carotene has a role as adjunct therapy in treatment of HIV-infected patients .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Beta-carotene
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Intervention_Pharmacological
beta-Carotene
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Intervention_Pharmacological
beta-carotene supplementation
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Intervention_Control
placebo-controlled
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Intervention_Pharmacological
beta-carotene
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Intervention_Pharmacological
beta-carotene , 180 mg/day
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Intervention_Control
placebo
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Outcome_Physical
CD4 counts
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Outcome_Physical
total WBC count
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Outcome_Physical
CD4 count
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Outcome_Physical
CD4/CD8 ratios
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Outcome_Physical
CD4 count
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Outcome_Physical
CD4/CD8 ratio
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
toxicity
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Outcome_Other
immunostimulatory effect
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Outcome_Physical
HIV-infected patients
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Participant_Condition
HIV infection .
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Participant_Condition
HIV-infected
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Participant_Condition
HIV-infected
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Participant_Sample-size
Twenty-one
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Participant_Condition
HIV-seropositive
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Participant_Condition
HIV-infected
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Participant_Condition
HIV-infected