Propolis improves immunity and inflammation in people with HIV – 05/17/2023 – Health

An article published in the journal Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy demonstrated the beneficial effects of consuming 500 milligrams of propolis daily by people living with the virus that causes AIDS. The authors identified that, unlike the group that received a placebo, the one that received propolis showed a significant reduction in the plasmatic concentration of malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress. There was, in this same group, a slight increase in the total antioxidant capacity, which reflects the direct fight against free radicals.

“Although people living with HIV have excellent life expectancy with current therapies, one of the problems still faced is the issue of premature aging – approximately ten to 20 years, compared to the uninfected population. Immunity [imunossenescência] accelerated in this population and the early development of comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and neoplasms”, points out biologist Karen Ingrid Tasca, who developed her post-doctorate at IBB-Unesp (Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista), with the support of Fapesp.

This premature aging process is due to the constant activation of the immune system and the chronic inflammation presented by these patients and, according to Tasca, oxidative stress “goes hand in hand” with these two pathways, which is why it is important that it be controlled.

“The oxidative stress caused by the virus and by the antiretrovirals themselves has a great impact on these patients. In an attempt to reduce these pathological processes and improve quality of life and survival, there is a need for interventions that minimize these effects. Among the various existing natural products, propolis, which is a resin, has this potential, as it has recognized antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties”, explains the researcher.

Leader of the group that published the article, biologist and professor José Maurício Sforcin has been studying the effects of propolis for almost 30 years at the Botucatu Institute of Biosciences.

“I have been investigating the immunomodulatory action of propolis to expand knowledge about its mechanisms of action in cells involved in immunity. Much work has already been carried out on the biological actions of this product in vitro, in cell culture, as well as in vivo, in models with experimental animals, mainly mice. Research with clinical trials needs to expand and reveal the potential of this bee product for health”, highlights Sforcin.

Despite the evidence of health benefits, studies on propolis did not cover the HIV-infected population.

“There were in vitro findings that showed the potential for inhibiting the load of virus replication by some components contained in propolis. And also studies in people who had some chronic condition, such as diabetes, so we realized the urgency of our research, because at the time that we designed our study, there were no data in the literature on the effects of propolis for this specific group”, ponders Tasca.

In addition to the attenuation of oxidative stress, the researchers had already demonstrated a decrease in inflammatory parameters in this same group of patients. The publication, also published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, showed an increase in the proliferation of CD4+ T lymphocytes, cells that are considered the main target of the virus. There was also greater expression of the Foxp3 transcription factor, a marker of “regulatory T” cells (another type of lymphocyte), responsible for modulating inflammation.

“The results indicate that propolis can be an alternative to improve the immune response and reduce inflammation in asymptomatic patients. HIV infection induces intense dysregulation of the immune system, generating loss of cell function and chronic inflammation. The persistent immune activation and inflammation deserve attention, as they are potentially determinant factors of morbidity and mortality not associated with Aids, even in individuals undergoing treatment and who have adequate viral suppression”, says one of the authors of the study, biomedical Fernanda Lopes Conte, whose doctorate at the Faculdade de Medicina da Unesp, in Botucatu, was carried out with the support of FAPESP.

To ensure the fidelity of the data obtained, the group followed the diet and health habits of the 40 participants (20 who received propolis and 20 who received placebo) during the 90 days of the intervention, so that possible behavioral changes would not influence the results. This context was studied by Ana Claudia de Moura Moreira Alves with the help of a Scientific Initiation Scholarship.

In this research, the authors observed the absence of adverse events in the group that received propolis and the increase in serum levels of magnesium, an element that contributes to the body’s homeostasis. During the period, there were no changes in the nutritional, metabolic or biochemical profile of the participants, after successive analyzes of food records and bioimpedance.

Prioritizing the health and safety of the participants, only those who were under antiretroviral therapy, had an undetectable viral load and an ideal CD4+ T-type immune cell count were included in the study. Now, the researchers point out that further research is needed for the adoption of propolis as an effective intervention also for patients with comorbidities or treatment failure.

The article Propolis consumption by asymptomatic HIV-individuals: Better redox state? A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial can be read at: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332223004146.