Evaluation of immune markers in asymptomatic AIDS patients receiving fish oil supplementation

Abstract The effects of oral fish oil (FO) supplementation (8 g/day, capsules) on nutritional status and selected immune markers (CD4/CD8 ratio, IL-1β, erythrocyte MDA release, dehydroepiandrosteronesulfate [DHEA-S]) were studied in a homogeneous group of asymptomatic HIV-infected patients during 6 weeks. All subjects were classified clinically as A2 according to the CDC revised criteria (mean CD4 count 290 ±123 cells/mm 3 ) and were receiving zidovudine retroviral treatment. The calculated mean energy intake was 3437 ± 372 Kcal/d, composed of 14% protein, 38% lipids and 48% carbohydrates, and was not modified during the study. The anthropometric parameters, and hematological and plasma biochemistry data showed nosignificant changes after FO supplementation. Mean malonyldialdehyde (MDA) release before treatment was: unstimulated 71.5 ± 37 and stimulated 350.9 ± 79.8 nmol/g Hb. After FO supplementation (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 samples, IL-1β levels in the unstimulated blood culture showed a statistical increase with respect to the normal range before (T 0 ) and after (T 6 ) FO supplementation with a slight decrease after (mean 49.8 vs 40.9 pg/ml). The stimulated IL-1β levels after treatment showed a statistically significant decrease that was maintained within the normal range (T 0 : 797.7 vs T 6 : 535.6 pg/ml). Taken collectively, these results suggest a tendency toward improvement in immune function.