Algae – a poor man's HAART?

Abstract

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.