OXIDATIVE STRESS, CELL ACTIVATION AND VIRAL INFECTION · C. PASQUIER ET AL. (EDS) · Ó1994 BIRKHÄUSER VERLAG BASEL/SWITZERLAND

Place For An Antioxidant Therapy In Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection

S. Baruchel^1,2 G. Bounous², P. Gold²

¹McGill University, Dept. of Pediatrics; McGill AIDS Centre. Montreal. Qc. H3H 1P3, Canada

²McGill University, Dept of Medicine; McGill AIDS Centre. Montreal. Qc. H3G 1A4, Canada

SUMMARY - Oxidative stress, a known activator of HIV replication in vitro, has a potential role as a cofactor of HIV disease progression. Arguments supporting the role of oxidative stress as a cofactor in HIV activation are summarized in this review. The role of intracellular antioxidants such as glutathione (GSH), and drugs and nutriceutical agents promoting GSH synthesis, are discussed. The review also includes the early results of nutritional interventions based on a diet enriched with IMMUNOCAL, a whey protein concentrate prepared in a proprietary manner.