Statement about HIV and supplement control.

[Guest guest]

The recent threat about a "hypothesis," suggesting use of "supplements" to delay the progression of HIV infection was hugely dismaying to read, as it is demonstrably false, and potentially harmful to people living with HIV disease. If even only one person on this list decides to change or delay treatment because this hypothesis seems easier to deal with then the side effects of HIV treatment medications, then, has not a huge injury has been done to them? Would the personal who is spreading this hypothesis be willing to step up to the plate and say, yes, I am responsible for damaging this person’s health, and finally stop spreading disinformation?There is no evidence to suggest that vitamin, mineral, or herbal deficiencies have any role in the evolution of HIV disease, and there is also absolutely no evidence that any program of supplements can delay the time when drug therapy may be required. None. We do not know what a "Medical Geographer" is, but I do know that the "hypothesis" being suggested does not meet any criteria of serious experimental testing, any more then the ideas of Dusenberg and the HIV denialists do. This is not a "hypothesis" it is irrational, irresponsible speculation, flying against decades of medical and scientific experience in the real world. Numerous studies of long-term non-progressers, "elite controllers," disease progression in Africa, and on and on have failed to show that the practice of dietary supplementation with vitamins or herbs (tested many times in Africa) has any role in delaying AIDS progression, nor is there any reason to speculate that the four nutrients mentioned might have such a role. We are not implying any malice whatsoever to the promoter, but there is a huge disconnect between the dangers that this line of speculation poses to people living with HIV and the perspective of an HIV-negative individual with curiosity about "alternatives" to standard, effective care. Those of us who have lived with and been active in advocacy around this disease from the beginning now want state unambiguously: Nobody with HIV infection should take any "nutritional supplement" believing that such a product will have any direct impact on the progression of HIV disease, even if supplements may be of benefit for managing some of the complications experienced by people living with AIDS. This line of discussion is as false and destructive as anything stated by denialists, and should be ignored and opposed as a threat to maintaining the life and health of those of us living with HIV. Co signed BarrowAl Benson