The impact of probiotic yogurt on HIV positive women in Tanzania

In a randomized, double blind study, 145 HIV+ women receiving anti-retroviral therapy at Sekou-Toure Regional Hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania were enrolled. Participants were randomly allocated to receive 125 mL daily regular yogurt or 125 mL probiotic supplemented yogurt for 29 days. Subject interviews at day 0 and 29 revealed fewer vaginal symptoms and signs, better appetite, less stomach gas and more energy for work, irrespective of the treatment group. The Nugent scoring showed almost 40% women had improved vaginal microbiota over the month, albeit the addition of the probiotic did not differ from the standard yogurt group. Therefore, yogurt provides a safe nutritious food that can be made locally and taken daily by HIV-subjects receiving anti-retroviral therapy. It has the potential to transfer health benefits to the gut and vagina, but the extent to which a probiotic can add to this through rectal to perineal transfer remains to be determined.

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