Abstract
Background and aim: HIV/AIDS drugs usually have undesirable side effect. Moringa oleifera is a plant that has been uses for various beneficial purposes. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential benefits of Moringa oleifera on blood triglyceride and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in patient receiving tenofovir/lamivudine/efavirenz (TLE) combination therapy.
Methods: The protocol was designed as a Longitudinal Randomized Comparative Trial (LRCT) involving 140 HIV adult subjects (56 men and 84 women) who had already been on TLE (300/300/600mg) combination therapy for at least 6 months prior to the study. They were enrolled from a teaching hospital in Nigeria. M. oleifera capsules (200mg) were given to the subjects to be used from the first day as visit 0 until visit 1 (four weeks after) and 2 (12 weeks after). Blood samples of subjects were collected at visits 0, 1 and 2 and serum analyzed for triglyceride and LDL levels.
Results: There was a significant decrease in serum LDL level (P<0.01) at visit 1 compared to visit 0. There was also significant (P<0.01) improvement compared to visit 0 and visit 1. There was a significant decrease in blood triglyceride level (P<0.01) at visit 1 compared to visit 0 of TLE combination. At visit on day 2, there was a further significant decrease in triglyceride level compared to visit 0.
Conclusion: M. oleifera may be useful in improving blood triglyceride and LDL levels of patients receiving TLE combination.