Micronutrient Supplemented Probiotic Yogurt for HIV/AIDS and Other Immunodeficiencies

We hypothesize that micronutrient fortified probiotic yogurt can improve nutritional status and enhance immunity parameters in subjects HIV/AIDS and other immunodeficiencies. We have developed a micronutrient-fortified probiotic yogurt that has safe and beneficial levels of micronutrients for human consumption. This has been undertaken with the guidance of Edward Farnworth, a senior research scientist at Agri-Food Canada-Food Research and Development Centre, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec We will now measure nutritional parameters (height, weight, serum albumin, serum nutrient levels, blood urea, liver function tests (AST, ALT)) to determine if there is a statistically significant difference between the various levels of fortified probiotic yogurt and the placebo on the nutritional parameters of the subjects consuming the yogurt. We will measure immunological parameters (CD4 lymphocyte count, CBC, levels of TNFα, IL-12, IL-10, and G-CSF \[Kim, et.al. 2006\]) in order to determine if there is a statistically significant difference using fortified probiotic yogurt compared to a placebo. In addition, we will determine if the micronutrient-fortified probiotic yogurt has a significant impact on the overall quality of life for the subjects using the "linear analogue self assessment" tool \[Kaiser, et.al 2006\].