The Effect of Probiotics on Microbial Translocation and Inflammation in HIV-infected Patients

The Effect of Probiotics on Microbial Translocation and Inflammation in HIV-infected Patients

Objective:

In this study the investigators aim at investigating:

1. probiotics ability to modulate the microbiome and microbial translocation,
2. if probiotics affect the level of cholesterol, triglycerides as markers of cardiovascular risk factors and
3. if a reduction of microbial translocation is associated with a reduction of inflammation in the gastro-intestinal tract.

Design:

The study is a prospective clinical intervention trial of 40 HIV-infected patients.

Method:

The investigator will administer the bacteria Lactobacillus Rhamnosus in capsular form to each patient 2 times a day in 8 weeks. At baseline and at the 8th week of the intervention, the investigators will collect blood samples, feces samples and make a positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance scans.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age over 18
• confirmed HIV
• no HIV treatment
• cluster of differentiation 4+ cell count over 350

Exclusion Criteria:

• antibiotic or probiotic in last 2 month
• drugs that influence gut motility
• diabetes
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• cancer
• autoimmune diseases