EVALUATION OF IMMUNE MARKERS IN ASYMPTOMATIC AIDS PATIENTS RECEIVING FISH-OIL SUPPLEMENTATION

The effects of oral fish oil (FO) supplementation (8 g/day, capsules) on nutritional status and selected immune markers (CD4/CD8 ratio, IL-1 beta, erythrocyte MDA release, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate [DHEA-S ]) were studied in a homogeneous group of asymptomatic HIV-infected pa tients during 6 weeks. All subjects were classified clinically as A2 a ccording to the CDC revised criteria (mean CD4 count 290 +/- 123 cells /mm(3)) and were receiving zidovudine retroviral treatment. The calcul ated mean energy intake was 3437 +/- 372 Kcal/d, composed of 14% prote in, 38% lipids and 48% carbohydrates, and was not modified during the study. The anthropometric parameters, and hematological and plasma bio chemistry data showed no significant changes after FO supplementation. Mean malonyldialdehyde (MDA) release before treatment was: unstimulat ed 71.5 +/- 37 and stimulated 350.9 +/- 79.8 nmol/g Hb. After FO suppl ementation (T-6) MDA release showed unstimulated values of 96.1 +/- 62 , and a significant increase after stimulation of 614.1 +/- 106.4 nmol /g Hb, which was, however, within the normal range. In the patient's s amples, IL-1 beta levels in the unstimulated blood culture showed a st atistical increase with respect to the normal range before (T-0) and a fter (T-6) FO supplementation with a slight decrease after (mean 49.8 vs 40.9 pg/ml). The stimulated IL-1 beta levels after treatment showed a statistically significant decrease that was maintained within the n ormal range (T-0: 797.7 vs T-6: 535.6 pg/ml). Taken collectively, thes e results suggest a tendency toward improvement in immune function.