Question
How can I increase my CD4 count without ARVs?
8 January 2016. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, Southern Africa, Starting treatment, Supplements and herbs.
I have just found out that I was HIV positive in March, last year. My CD4 count was 270.
I did another test and it was 284 and my doctor said I must start treatment.
I just want to know what I must do to increase my CD4 count without taking treatment.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
The only way to increase your CD4 is to use HIV treatment (ART).
Your doctor is giving you good information and advice.
Nothing else, including multivitamins, supplements or herbal remedies can increase your CD4 count. Looking after yourself is important – for example, eating a balanced diet, keeping physically and mentally active, reducing stress, sleeping well etc. But increasing your CD4 count is only proven by using effective HIV meds.
Even though some companies advertise this vitamins and supplements can help your CD4 count, these are scams. There is no such thing as an “immune booster” and no “immune booster” will help your CD4 count or help control HIV.
Why do you want to delay ART or look at other options? HIV meds are really effective – this is what they were designed for.
ART stops HIV from replicating. The main aim is to reduce your viral load to an undetectable level (less than 50 copies/mL). As your viral load goes down, your immune system start to repair itself. This means that your CD4 count will slowly go up to higher levels again.
Currently South Africa recommendation starting treatment when the CD4 count is below 500 cells/mm3. This may change in the future and treatment might be recommended at any CD4 count. (Note: South African later changed to recommends treatment at any CD4 count).
Here is a link to more information about starting treatment. Please take your time reading it and if you have any further questions do write back to me.
Are you receiving any support from other people? Getting support from your local support group or a counsellor can help you to come to terms living with HIV. Also you will be able to gain and share experiences with others who are in the similar situation as you, rather than having to deal with it in isolation.
This answer was updated in January 2019 and January 2016 from a question first posted on 2 March 2012.
Hi Thabo, it is better you found out now than later when you were more ill. The clinic is giving you good advice. It is a goog time to start treatment. This will also help you have better long-term health.
Hi my name is Thabo im feeling very strong and wouldnt have found out that im positive had I not had a fungal infection cause the clinic kind of forced me to do a blood test then I found out. I am starting my ART this week but my cd4 count is 315. Should I be worried? when they told me its 315 I got very stressed should I be worried that its only 315?
Hi Lundi, congratulations – with lots of combinations, most people notice nothing. If your combination include efavirenz, then you might feely dizzy or not sleep well. In this case, and if things are difficult, please see Q3 at this link:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hi im just starting my treatment today what should i except? My CD4 is 405
Hi Efe, please see Q2 at this link:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
How can I boost my cd4 and immune system?
Hi Ronald, thanks for your reply and apologies for not replying earlier. The numbers of request we get means that I prioritise questions from people about their care – and I needed time to see the links you sent. I should separate a few issues. Firstly, I am not questioning the quality of vitamins or whether they are made of natural ingredients. This could easily all be good.
The suggestion that vitamins will make any difference to the CD4 count is very different and this is why I made the earlier comments. The links you sent showed a lot of variability – some people’s CD4 count went up but others went down. Also, although a couple of studies have reported benefits from vitamins in people who had vitamin deficiencies due to poor nutrition and diet. A good nutritional diet is important. These were usually from many years ago before when HIV treatment was not as good.
Modern ART is so much better, with fewer side effects, that it is now recommended for everyone who is HIV positive. In this context, ART dramatically increases CD4 counts in a way that vitamins never can. There is plenty of evidence to show ART does this.
Even without evidence to support vitamins, lots of people like the thought that vitamins being good. The vitamin industry s huge – multi-billion dollars a year in the US – and the best I can say it that, in moderations, they are unlikely to do harm. Occasionally though, vitamins that people assumed would help, actually can be found to do harm when careful randomised studies are carried out.
Given how much income the vitamin industry makes, I don’t think I am asking too much for some of the profits to be invested in research that proves whatever benefit is being claimed.
Hello Simon, thanks for your reply. I don’t have peer reviewed studies. In Thailand, there is APCOcap or LIV capsules which is a result of almost four decades of scientific studies clinical testing. The head scientist and CEO of Asian Phytoceuticals PCL (APCO) is Dr. Pichaet Wiriyachitra. Head office at the 30th floor of the AIA Bldg. in Bangkok and cGMP labs and facilities in Chiang Mai. Their products are natural supplements and have been proven to increase CD4 count. Most of their research and press releases are in Thai. We worked on a few translations into English last year and I will send you links. I understand if you are not going to post this, but have a look at it yourself, this product really helps a lot of HIV affected people. Thank you, Greetings, Ronald
Hi Ronald, please forward links to any peer reviewed studies that support your claims. i-Base information is based on evidence and if this exists I will be happy to review it. It is fine to post the links as a comment here.
Quote from answer: “Nothing else, including multivitamins, supplements or herbal remedies can increase your CD4 count.” This is not true, this is a misleading statement. But maybe you not aware of products that really boost your CD4 count enormously. I cannot name the product here, because of the forum’s rules. And I would ask Simon collins to contact me about this matter. This is no scam and scientifically proven increase of CD4 count without ARV’s. I’m using my real name here and I have nothing to hide…Thanks. Greetings, Ronald