How Effective are Complementary Therapies for HIV and AIDS?—a Systematic Review

Complementary treatments are often used by HIV-infected individuals. Yet little is known about their effectiveness. The aim of this systematic review was therefore to summarize the published evidence for or against the effectiveness of complementary therapies in HIV-positive people. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to locate all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of complementary therapies. Data were extracted in a standardized fashion and evaluated critically. Fourteen studies met our pre-de® ned inclusion/exclusion criteria; 2 of herbal treatments, 5 of vitamins and other supplements, 5 of stress management, one of massage therapy, and one of acupuncture. They fall into 2 broad categories of ‘cure’ and ‘care’. While the former category yields few encouraging results, the latter group of studies is more promising. In particular, stress management may prove to be an effective way to increase the quality of life. It is concluded that few rigorous trials of complementary treatments for HIV exist. The domain of complementary medicine may lie in the care for HIV-infected individuals with a view of increasing their quality of life. This notion requires further rigorous investigation.

[1]  J. Astin Why Patients Use Alternative Medicine—Reply , 1998 .

[2]  W. Jonas Alternative medicine--learning from the past, examining the present, advancing to the future. , 1998, JAMA.

[3]  K. Chaloner,et al.  Acupuncture and amitriptyline for pain due to HIV-related peripheral neuropathy: a randomized controlled trial. Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS. , 1998, JAMA.

[4]  Kathleen M. Fairfield,et al.  Patterns of use, expenditures, and perceived efficacy of complementary and alternative therapies in HIV-infected patients. , 1998, Archives of internal medicine.

[5]  C. Kovacs,et al.  Effects of vitamin E and C supplementation on oxidative stress and viral load in HIV‐infected subjects , 1998, AIDS.

[6]  J. Astin Why patients use alternative medicine: results of a national study. , 1998, JAMA.

[7]  J. Margolick,et al.  Vitamin A supplementation and human immunodeficiency virus load in injection drug users. , 1998, The Journal of infectious diseases.

[8]  S. Chamaret,et al.  Efficacy and safety of Buxus sempervirens L. preparations (SPV(30)) in HIV-infected asymptomatic patients: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. , 1998, Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology.

[9]  W. Schmiegel,et al.  Assessment of satisfaction with the communication process during consultation of cancer patients with potentially curable disease, cancer patients on palliative care, and HIV-positive patients. , 1998, Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift.

[10]  C. Pichard,et al.  A randomized double-blind controlled study of 6 months of oral nutritional supplementation with arginine and omega-3 fatty acids in HIV-infected patients. Swiss HIV Cohort Study. , 1998, AIDS.

[11]  R. Harrigan,et al.  Effects of vitamin A supplementation on viral load in HIV-1-infected pregnant women. , 1997, Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes and human retrovirology : official publication of the International Retrovirology Association.

[12]  E. Ernst Complementary AIDS therapies: the good, the bad and the ugly , 1997, International journal of STD & AIDS.

[13]  T. Hosaka,et al.  Liaison psychiatry and HIV infection (II): Application of relaxation in HIV positive patients , 1997, Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences.

[14]  N. Schneiderman,et al.  Cognitive-behavioral stress management decreases dysphoric mood and herpes simplex virus-type 2 antibody titers in symptomatic HIV-seropositive gay men. , 1997, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[15]  T. Field,et al.  Massage therapy improves behavior in neonates born to HIV-positive mothers. , 1996, Journal of pediatric psychology.

[16]  C. Sergeant,et al.  One-year antioxidant supplementation with beta-carotene or selenium for patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus: a pilot study. , 1996, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

[17]  J. Hahn,et al.  Pilot randomized controlled trial of Chinese herbal treatment for HIV-associated symptoms. , 1996, Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes and human retrovirology : official publication of the International Retrovirology Association.

[18]  J. Stein,et al.  Prospektive, longitudinale, Dosis-eskalierende, randomisierte Phase-l/ll-Studie mit Iscador® QuFrF und Iscador® Qu Spezial mit HIV-Positiven, Krebspatienten und gesunden, nichtrauchenden Probanden , 1996 .

[19]  D. Cella,et al.  The influence of stress management training in HIV disease. , 1996, Nursing research.

[20]  A. White,et al.  Complementary medicine — a definition , 1995 .

[21]  Douglas N. Taylor,et al.  Effects of a Behavioral Stress-Management Program on Anxiety, Mood, Self-Esteem, and T-Cell Count in HIV-Positive Men , 1995, Psychological reports.

[22]  W. Langewitz,et al.  The integration of alternative treatment modalities in HIV infection--the patient's perspective. , 1994, Journal of psychosomatic research.

[23]  S. Moretti,et al.  Carnitine depletion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with AIDS: effect of oral L‐carnitine , 1994, AIDS.

[24]  M. Kochen,et al.  How do patients with HIV perceive their general practitioners? , 1991, BMJ.

[25]  R. Greenblatt,et al.  Polypharmacy among patients attending an AIDS clinic: utilization of prescribed, unorthodox, and investigational treatments. , 1991, Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes.

[26]  W. Rozenbaum,et al.  Vitamin B12 injections in patients treated with zidovudine. , 1990, AIDS.

[27]  D. Stites,et al.  Stress reduction training changed number of sexual partners but not immune function in men with HIV. , 1989, American journal of public health.