FIU, Camillus House to test zinc as a tool against HIV
Study backed by $3.5 million federal grant

A new collaborative study between FIU and Camillus House will test whether the immune systems of HIV-positive illicit drug users can be protected with zinc, a common dietary supplement.

Preliminary studies indicate that the answer may be "yes." In both a U.S. and an Italian study, participants with low levels of zinc in their blood plasma also had low levels of critical CD-4 immune system cells, also known as "T cells." Zinc supplementation delayed HIV disease progression in study participants and decreased the rate of opportunistic infections, the range of diseases that define acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS.

Low blood-plasma levels have been shown to predict a three-fold increase in HIV-related mortality in substance abusers. Zinc deficiency is prevalent in HIV-positive individuals, especially those who abuse drugs, studies show. Several studies show that zinc has been used with impressive success as an immunostimulatory agent in malnutrition, obesity and sickle-cell anemia.

The new trial, which is being underwritten by a $3.5 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (an arm of the National Institutes of Health), will examine whether the results from those earlier studies hold up in a much larger cohort of 210 people. The study could have important ramifications for the tens of
millions of individuals worldwide and the more than 1 million in the United States who are infected with HIV.

Researchers have studied the relationship between nutrition and HIV and found that even individuals with HIV who consume adequate diets tend to have nutritional deficiencies that may be associated with faster disease progression. Zinc deficiency, however, seems to play a significant role in the breakdown of the immune system.

"This is a potential adjunct to normal HIV therapy, not a treatment in and of itself," said Ronald Berkman, dean of the FIU College of Health and Urban Affairs. "But it is encouraging that no matter what treatment regimen individuals may be on, zinc seems to help with immune system function."

Camillus House, a Miami-based organization that has provided health care, addiction recovery, counseling and other services to the homeless, persons suffering from drug abuse and the mentally ill for more than 40 years, will screen about 1,000 potential study subjects, from which the 210 participants will be selected. That group will be randomly divided, with half receiving zinc supplements and half taking a placebo. Subjects will be followed for 30 months, during which all will receive free medical care and other follow -up services.

"We are very excited to be partnering with FIU in this important study, particularly when we consider the alrming number of homeless persons living in Miami-Dade who are HIV positive and suffer from substance abuse," said Dale Simpson, executive director of Camillus House.