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<[log in to unmask]> asked the misc.health.aids Newsgroup:

>Does anybody have any information regarding gluten's effect on people
>that are HIV positive or have AIDS? Research study citations would be
>most helpful. Commercials for Advera imply that gluten causes
>discomfort.
>
>Gluten is a protein that is found in all wheat (more so in bread and
>pasta), but also found in rye, barley, oats and all foodstuffs further
>down the processing chain that have one of these grains, or have been
>contaminated with one.

James Scutero <[log in to unmask]> replied:

TI  - The interactive role of mucosal T lymphocytes in intestinal
      growth, development and enteropathy.
RF  - REVIEW ARTICLE: 70 REFS.
AD  - University Department of Medicine, Hope Hospital, Salford,
      Greater Manchester, United Kingdom.
AB  - Over the past 15-20 years, research has progressively focused on
      the mucosal T cell as the central factor in the initiation of
      physiological or pathological changes, first in the growth and
      maturation of the early (postnatal) intestine, and second in
      adult-type enteropathies resulting from sensitivity to either
      food or pathogen-derived antigens. T cell-mediated events may be
      measured, for example, in terms of specific immunopathologic
      patterns of change and injury, such as type 1 (lymphocyte
      infiltration), type 2 (crypt hyperplasia) and type 3
      (flat-destructive), which can be recognized and quantitated
      microscopically; by determination of lymphocyte reactivity
      through secretion of interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) into plasma
      or expression by mucosal lymphocytes; by quantitation of
      lymphocyte subsets emigrating into inflamed tissues by
      immunoperoxidase-labelled monoclonal antibodies; or by the
      determination of T cell receptor polymorphisms. Alterations in
      intestinal growth, structure and function at weaning are likely
      to be T cell-mediated as they are analogous to the same type 1/2
      lesions that reflect modulation of adult mucosal architecture in
      food and parasite-induced hypersensitivity reactions.
      Enteropathies associated with HIV infection and T cell deficiency
      display a milder degree of villous flattening and impaired crypt
      hyperplasia than that typical of GLUTEN-sensitivity, suggesting a
      reversion to lesser degrees of mucosal pathology (type 1/2).
      Clearly more information will accrue; meanwhile the remarks in
      this brief survey should provide a firm basis whereby clinician
      and scientist can meet, and together recognize and further
      dissect the modulatory effect of T lymphocytes on mucosal
      structure and function.
SO  - J Gastroenterol Hepatol 1993 May-Jun;8(3):270-8
============================================================
AU  - Dwyer JT
TI  - Nutrition support of HIV+ patients.
AD  - Frances Stern Nutrition Center, New England Medical Center
      Hospital, Boston, MA 02111.
AB  - Case management strategies for the nutritional support of
      patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are
      evolving as the disease becomes less rapidly fatal and more
      chronic. Nutritional status changes in advanced HIV infection are
      similar in many respects to protein-calorie malnutrition. Current
      clinical effort and research focuses on the beneficial effects of
      preserving lean body mass and keeping asymptomatic patients in
      good nutritional status by preventing micronutrient deficiencies
      and by treating preexisting nutritional problems rather than
      attempting to intervene late in the disease's course, after
      secondary malnutrition has already developed. Nutrition support
      and intervention trials only late in the disease process have not
      been promising in reversing weight loss once it has occurred.
      Special diets, such as lactose- or gluten-free diets, may be
      helpful in some cases as asymptomatic treatment of some
      opportunistic infections, and such measures may slow additional
      losses. However, secretory diarrhea, which often seems to be
      inherent to the disease itself, is not ameliorated by such
      measures. Current research is focusing on the potential role of
      glutamine in slowing malabsorption and on combinations of diet
      and drug treatments. Asymptomatic patients are now the focus of
      concern. Preserving good nutritional status by attention to
      preventing weight loss and loss of lean body mass and assuring
      food safety are primary. Symptomatic patients require specific
      assistance depending on the presence of opportunistic infections
      and the drugs required. Specific nutrition support measures
      depend on whether or not the gut is functional.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
SO  - Henry Ford Hosp Med J 1991;39(1):60-5
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-James M. Scutero, original proponent of misc.health.aids.