| Supplement | Amount | Why |
|---|
Arginine, HMB, and Glutamine
(Loss of Lean Body Mass) | 1.5 grams of HMB, 7 grams of L-glutamine, and 7 grams of L-arginine twice per day |  [2 stars] The combination of glutamine, arginine, and HMB may prevent loss of lean body mass in people with AIDS-associated wasting. |
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Boxwood | 990 mg per day of an extract of the leaves and stems | [2 stars] Supplementing with boxwood appears to support CD4 cell counts. |
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DHEA | 200 to 500 mg daily | [2 stars] Large amounts of supplemental DHEA may alleviate fatigue in HIV-positive people. |
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Licorice | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] Licorice inhibits HIV reproduction in test tubes, supplementing with it may be safe and effective for long-term treatment of HIV infection. |
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Multivitamin | Follow label directions | [2 stars] Taking a daily multivitamin supplement may prevent common deficiencies associated with HIV and AIDS. |
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N-Acetyl Cysteine | 800 mg daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with NAC may slow the decline in immune function. |
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Saccharomyces boulardii | Take under medical supervision: 1 gram three times per day of Saccharomyces boulardii for diarrhea | [2 stars] In one trial, Saccharomyces boulardii helped stop diarrhea in HIV-positive people. |
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Sangre de Drago
(Diarrhea) | Take under medical supervision: 350 to 700 mg four times per day for seven or more days | [2 stars] An extract from stem bark latex of Sangre de Drago, an herb from the Amazon basin of Peru, has been shown to be effective against diarrhea associated with HIV and AIDS. |
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Selenium | Take under medical supervision: 400 mcg daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with selenium may result in fewer infections, a healthier appetite, and other benefits. |
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Zinc | 12 to 45 mg daily
| [2 stars] Zinc levels are frequently low in people with HIV infection. Zinc supplements have been shown to reduce the number of infections in people with AIDS. |
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Andrographis | Refer to label instructions
|  [1 star] A trial of isolated andrographolides, found in andrographis, showed that they decreased viral load and increased CD4 lymphocyte levels in people with HIV infection. |
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Asian Ginseng | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] One study found that steamed then dried Asian ginseng had beneficial effects in people infected with HIV and increased the effectiveness of the anti-HIV drug AZT. |
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Beta-Carotene | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Beta-carotene levels have been found to be low in HIV-positive people, supplementing with it may be beneficial. |
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Cat’s Claw | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Cat’s claw is an immuno-modulating herb. Standardized extracts of it have been shown to help prevent CD4 cell counts from dropping and to prevent opportunistic infections. |
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Coenzyme Q10 | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] In one trial, people with HIV who took CoQ10 experienced no further infections for up to seven months, and counts of infection-fighting white blood cells improved in some cases. |
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Echinacea | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Supplementing with echinacea may increase immune activity against HIV. |
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Eleuthero | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Eleuthero is an immune-modulating plant that may be beneficial for people with HIV infection. |
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Folic Acid | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Low folic acid levels are also common in HIV-positive people, supplementing may help correct a deficiency. |
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Garlic | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Garlic may help combat opportunistic infections. In one trial, an aged garlic extract reduced the number of infections and relieved diarrhea in a group of patients with AIDS. |
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Glutamine | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] The amino acid glutamine is needed for the synthesis of glutathione, an important antioxidant that is frequently depleted in people with HIV and AIDS. |
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Iron | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Iron deficiency is often present in HIV-positive children. Supplementing with it, under a doctor's supervision, may support immune function.
|
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Maitake | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Maitake mushrooms contain immuno-modulating polysaccharides (including beta-D-glucan) that may be supportive for HIV infection. |
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Methionine | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] One trial found that methionine may improve memory recall in people with AIDS-related nervous system degeneration. |
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Mistletoe | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Mistletoe injections into the skin have shown beneficial effects in people with HIV. |
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Reishi | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Reishi is medicinal mushroom with immune-modulating effects that may be beneficial for people with HIV infection. |
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Shiitake | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Shiitake is medicinal mushroom immune-modulating effects that may be beneficial for people with HIV infection. |
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Sho-Saiko-To (Bupleurum, Peony, Pinellia, Cassia, Ginger, Jujube, Asian Ginseng, Asian Scullcap, and Licorice) | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] The herbal formula sho-saiko-to has been shown to have beneficial immune effects on white blood cells in people infected with HIV. |
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St. John’s Wort | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] A preliminary trial found that people infected with HIV who took hypericin, a constituent from St. John’s wort, had some improvements in CD4+ cell counts. |
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Tea Tree | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] A 5% solution of tea tree oil has been shown to eliminate oral thrush in people with AIDS, according to one trial. |
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Thymus Extracts | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] In one trial, a thymus extract known as Thymomodulin improved several immune parameters among people with early HIV infection, including an increase in T-helper cells. |
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Turmeric (Curcumin) | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Turmeric may be a useful herb with immune effects in people infected with HIV. One trial found that curcumin, turmeric’s main active compound, helped improve CD4+ cell counts. |
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Vitamin A | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Vitamin A deficiency is common in people with HIV infection, and low levels of the vitamin are associated with greater disease severity. Ask your doctor if vitamin A is right for you. |
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Vitamin B1 | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] People with AIDS often have thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, which may contribute to some neurological abnormalities, supplementing with the vitamin may help. |
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Vitamin B12 | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] In HIV-positive people with B-vitamin deficiency, B vitamins appear to delay progression to and death from AIDS. |
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Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Vitamin B3 may play a role in HIV prevention and treatment. A form of vitamin B3 (niacinamide) has been shown to inhibit HIV in test tube studies. |
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Vitamin B6 | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Vitamin B6 deficiency was found in more than one-third of HIV-positive men, deficiency was associated with decreased immune function in this group. Supplementing with the vitamin may improve survival rate. |
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Vitamin E | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] In test-tube studies, vitamin E improved the effectiveness of the anti-HIV drug zidovudine (AZT) while reducing its toxicity. |
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Whey Protein | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Whey protein is rich in the amino acid cysteine, which the body uses to make glutathione, an important antioxidant. Supplementing with it may improve immune function. |
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