Here is a press release about an amino acid based nutrient combination that may be very helpful to some with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Most of the substances given by tube feeding do not contain sufficient amino acids. They provide mostly calories along with perhaps some protein, minerals and vitamins. There is little provided that may encourage weight or muscle gain. The web site offers more information and samples.
This is not to be considered a recommendation for this supplement in any way. It is only to inform you that it exists and where you can get additional information. It is up to you and your medical advisor to determine if there is a need for such a supplement in your particular circumstances.
EAST MEADOW, N.Y., Feb. 3, 1999 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers today unveiled what may be a powerful new supplement for AIDS patients who are waging an often losing battle to maintain weight and stay fit enough to endure highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The nutrient and amino acid combination may even enhance the success of HAART.
"Many AIDS patients lose weight at a frantic pace, sabotaging their chances to fight their best fight against the HIV virus even with powerful antiretroviral cocktails," said lead investigator, Robert Clark, M.D., Director of Community HIV Services at Nassau County Medical Center (NCMC), who presented the results of the pilot study at today's 6th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Chicago.
The double-blind, placebo-controlled study targeted 68 AIDS patients who experienced severe weight loss known as wasting. Results showed the group taking the mixture of beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate, arginine, and glutamine (HMB/Arg/Gln) gained an average of 6.5 pounds over eight weeks, 5.5 pounds of it muscle. The placebo group continued to lose muscle at an average of 1.5 pounds during the eight-week period. HMB/Arg/Gln is a lower cost, orange-flavored drink mix, developed at a major research university and sold as an over-the-counter dietary supplement called Juven.
"What is remarkable about the 'AIDS Wasting and Juven Study' is that you usually can't get AIDS patients to gain that level of muscle," said Dr. Clark. Wasting strikes more than one in four AIDS patients, according to the most recently available statistics, and is classified by the CDC as one of the primary AIDS-defining diagnoses. Owing to opportunistic infections and the tremendous pill burden -- some patients take up to 30 pills a day -- many AIDS patients suffer from loss of appetite, malnutrition, severe diarrhea and other bowel problems. This, in turn, further hampers an already weakened immune system and cripples a patient's ability to respond to the latest antiretroviral cocktails. Wasting also takes an emotional toll. Even in summer, many AIDS patients wear double clothing to hide their weight loss. Some avoid going out in daylight so as not to be seen.
Current alternatives to combat wasting, such as appetite stimulants, tend to add only fat. Steroids or growth hormones, which add some muscle but are expensive, need to be taken by injection and have serious side effects.
Dr. Clark's team saw no significant side effects with HMB/Arg/Gln and, in fact, the patients taking it noted diarrhea and bowel problems were reduced.
Patients said that they felt better and had more energy within two weeks of taking the supplement.
It appears that HMB/Arg/Gln may also have a positive impact on viral load, the primary indicator of AIDS disease progression. While viral load increased in the placebo group during the study, it actually decreased in the HMB/Arg/Gln group.
"Bear in mind this is a pilot study and more trials need to be done, but we suspect that HMB/Arg/Gln plays an indirect role in bolstering immunity by improving a patient's overall health and reducing malnutrition and malabsorption, and therefore enhancing the effectiveness of antiretroviral cocktails," said Clark. A longer-term study is planned at Nassau County Medical Center to detect any survival benefits with HMB/Arg/Gln. Studies in pediatric AIDS patients and cancer patients are also being planned.
More clinical information about Juven, which is made by MTI Biotech, Inc., is available toll-free at 877-465-8836 or at http://www.juven.com.
Juven is an lower cost, orange-flavored drink mixover-the-counter dietary supplement consisting of a mixture of the following amino acids: beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate, arginine, and glutamine. It was developed at a major research university.
Juven is designed to combat severe weight loss by helping the body add muscle.
Current alternatives to combat severe weight loss, such as appetite stimulants, tend to add only fat. Steroids or growth hormones, which add some muscle but are expensive, need to be taken by injection and have serious side effects.
No significant side effects were uncovered in recent tests using Juven with AIDS patients, in fact, those taking it noted diarrhea and bowel problems were reduced. Patients said that they felt better and had more energy within two weeks of taking the supplement.
It appears that Juven also had a positive impact on the immune system indicated by a reduced viral load, the primary indicator of AIDS disease progression.
It was felt that Juven played an indirect role in bolstering immunity by improving a patient's overall health and reducing malnutrition and malabsorption, and therefore enhancing the effectiveness of the various antiretroviral drugs.
