Algae – a poor man's HAART?

• Published in: Medical hypotheses Vol. 62; no. 4; pp. 507 - 510
• Main Authors: Teas, Jane, Hebert, James R, Fitton, J.Helen, Zimba, Paul V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2004
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - epidemiology; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - prevention & control; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Chad - epidemiology; Eukaryota - metabolism; Feeding Behavior; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Humans; Incidence; Japan - epidemiology; Korea - epidemiology; Poverty; Prevalence; Sargassum - metabolism; Spirulina; Undaria - metabolism; Viral Load - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0306-9877; 1532-2777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2003.10.005

Drawing inferences from epidemiologic studies of HIV/AIDS and in vivo and in vitro HIV inhibition by algae, we propose algal consumption as one unifying characteristic of countries with anomalously low rates. HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence in Eastern Asia (≈1/10,000 adults in Japan and Korea), compared to Africa (≈1/10 adults), strongly suggest that differences in IV drug use and sexual behavior are insufficient to explain the 1000-fold variation. Even in Africa, AIDS/HIV rates vary. Chad has consistently reported low rates of HIV/AIDS (2–4/100). Possibly not coincidentally, most people in Japan and Korea eat seaweed daily and the Kanemba, one of the major tribal groups in Chad, eat a blue green alga ( Spirulina) daily. Average daily algae consumption in Asia and Africa ranges between 1 and 2 tablespoons (3–13 g). Regular consumption of dietary algae might help prevent HIV infection and suppress viral load among those infected.