February 4, 2008

Probiotic Yogurt Settles Africa’s HIV-Positive Stomachs

A new study by African and Canadian researchers has found that probiotic supplements may help ease the diarrhea and nausea suffered by some HIV-positive people, reports food and beverage development news website Foodnavigator.com (foodnavigator.com, 2/4).

Taking probiotic yogurt helped stop diarrhea in women in sub-Saharan Africa, a region where many HIV-positive people are plagued by diarrhea and don’t have access to antiretroviral therapy.

“This is the first study to show the benefits of probiotic yogurt on quality of life of women in Nigeria with HIV/AIDS, and suggests that perhaps a simple fermented food can provide some relief in the management of the AIDS epidemic in Africa,” wrote lead author Kingsley Anukam in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology.

The study included 24 women between the ages of 18 and 44 with clinical signs of moderate diarrhea. The women were not receiving antiretroviral therapy or dietary supplements.

Previous studies have shown that probiotic supplements could provide protection for infants against gastrointestinal infection and diarrhea. This study suggest that probiotics could help improve the quality of life for HIV-positive people in areas where diarrhea is a prevalent and debilitating condition.

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Victor W Russell, San Jose, 2008-02-06 15:47:58
Wonder if they looked into lactos "problems" to start with? Adding yougurt to the diet of a lactos intolarant person very often show these same results.