Question
Which foods increase CD4 count?
18 January 2016. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Starting treatment.
I want to increase my CD4 count. Which foods should i eat to do this?
Answer
Hi,
A healthy balanced diet is important for everyone, especially people with HIV.
However HIV treatment is the only thing that will reliably increase your CD4 count. This will slowly start to happen after you start treatment, if you have not already.
You can have a look at this online guide for information about HIV and nutrition.
And our online guide with information about HIV treatment.
Hi Ksp, some people have a very strong immune response. Even without HIV treatment, the CD4 count can sometimes stay this high for more than 10 years. Do you have your viral load test results. This iwill normally be detectable by now and is one of the reasons that HIV treatment is still generally recommended.
People with this sort of response to HIV are called long term slow progressers (LTSPs). If viral load is still undetectable after so long, this is somethings being an HIV elite controller.
You need to have had a positive HIV test results that was confirmed in a laboratory.
My cd4 is 900 after 7 years of infection without treatment us it possible to this high level cd4 after years?
Hi Nisha, is your relation currently taking HIV meds. If yes, do you know how long they have been on treatment? If they just started treatment then the meds should help the other symptoms, together with antibiotics becasue the CD4 count is low. If they have been on treatment for a long time, then the doctor should talk about other HIV meds. A CD4 count of 22 – if this is the test result – is very low.
Diet changes are much less important right now than making sure the HIV meds are working.
My in-laws is affected with HIV and is suffering loose motions his reports include absolute CD4+ Lymphocytes count – 22. Please suggest diet or nutrition other than medicine.
Hi Happiness,
I’m going to need to ask you some questions, can you please get in touch with us at the following email: questions@i-base.org.uk
What can I do my brother losse memory and his cd4 is 50
Hi Anjali,
What you’ve been given is a generic version of an ARV called Atripla, please see here: https://i-base.info/guides/1561
If you have a rash, you need to tell your doctor about this as it could be the sign of a serious side effect. However it could also just be a mild reaction. You’ve just started taking meds and your body needs to get used to them. Please see here: https://i-base.info/guides/starting
You’re taking ARVs so you’re already doing the best thing possible for your CD4- there isn’t anything else that you can take.