Vitamin C May Hamper Crixivan Treatment

High-dose vitamin C supplements can interfere with Crixivan treatment, significantly reducing the concentration of the protease inhibitor in the bloodstream, according to an abstract presented in September at the 43rd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, held in Chicago. The Crixivan concentrations in seven HIV-negative volunteers were measured during two time frames'one during which the adults received only Crixivan pills every eight hours and a second during which they took both the protease inhibitor plus a one-gram dose of vitamin C each day. Blood-based Crixivan levels were shown to be significantly lower when the volunteers also took high-dose vitamin C, the researchers report. Inadequate levels of anti-HIV drugs in the body can result in treatment failure and the emergence of drug-resistant virus. Based on their study, the researchers recommend that doctors caution their HIV-positive patients taking Crixivan and other protease inhibitors of the possible negative interaction between the medications and vitamin C supplements.