5 Health Supplements Proven to Work

Probiotics
Three of the top four side effects of HIV meds are gastrointestinal, such as chronic diarrhea. That’s because the gut is a major spot for HIV replication, which then diminishes immune cells. But probiotics—essentially live bacteria and yeasts—do more for a good gut than anything else, reducing inflammation and improving CD4-cell counts.

Algae
A study in Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes found that blue-green algae (also known as spirulina) inhibited HIV replication.

Multivitamins
One study found that multivitamins reduced HIV-positive women’s risk of death by 30 percent.

Zinc
A deficiency in zinc occurs in over half of HIV-positive adults, and studies indicate that zinc delays immunological failure and decreases a nasty side effect, diarrhea.

Vitamin D
Up to 75 percent of the general population is deficient in vitamin D. For people with HIV, vitamin D reduces the risk of osteoporosis, produces proteins that help fight bacteria, reduces inflammation, improves muscle strength, and improves blood sugar control, reducing the risk of diabetes, according to numerous studies.