Complementary corner.

Abstract

Interest in nutritional health products stems from a number of observations. These include documented nutritional/vitamin deficiencies even in early stages of HIV infection and malnutrition associated with increased risk of HIV disease progression. There is great controversy, however, over whether or not using supplements is always a good idea and if it provides benefits in the long run. There has also been long-standing interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches to managing HIV infection and various conditions associated with HIV. The CAMs most commonly used by people living with HIV are not drugs, herbs or other pharmacologic agents, but rather things like meditation, massage, energy healing, acupuncture and the like. The following article contains summary highlights of studies of nutritional health products and CAM approaches in the setting of HIV presented at the World AIDS Conference in Barcelona.