Sodium propionate supplements in people living with HIV
What it found
In 32 people living with HIV, taking sodium propionate daily for 12 weeks was well tolerated and came with better cholesterol and long-term blood sugar numbers.
The authors also saw shifts in immune cells and gut bacteria, and people reported better quality of life.
What they found
Studies in people
Tolerability
The sodium propionate supplement was well tolerated by the participants.
Metabolic measures
The authors found improvements in lipid profiles and long-term blood glucose levels.
Immune changes
They observed a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines and a depletion of effector T cells, while regulatory T cells and IL-10 also decreased.
Gut bacteria
Changes in the taxonomic composition of the microbiome were seen during follow-up.
Quality of life
Participants reported improvement in items of self-reported life-quality assessment.
What the authors conclude
“Taken together, the beneficial impact of SP in PLHIV reflects its potential in improving metabolic parameters and modulating pro-inflammatory immune responses.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the beneficial impact of sodium propionate in people living with HIV reflects its potential in improving metabolic parameters and modulating pro-inflammatory immune responses.
- They suggest it may possibly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disorders and help long-term improvement of the gut flora.
How it was done
Non-AIDS long-term illnesses, especially heart disease and gut problems, have been rising in people with HIV and have been linked to ongoing inflammation. Short-chain fatty acids like propionate are thought to connect gut bacteria to the immune system, but sodium propionate had not been tested as a supplement in people living with HIV before.
They ran a 12-week study at a center in Bochum, Germany, giving 32 HIV-positive patients a daily oral sodium propionate supplement, then followed them for another 12 weeks. All participants had stayed on the same HIV treatment for the previous three months.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The study was not randomized, so the groups may have differed in ways that affected the results.
- It only included 32 people, all at one center in Germany, so the findings may not apply to everyone.
- The follow-up was 12 weeks after the 12-week supplement period, so longer-term effects are unknown.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Flexopharm Brain GmbH & Co. KG (from the PubMed record).
- Authors work at
- Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Germany; Ruhr Universität Bochum, Germany; MVZ Laboratory Krone, Germany
The paper
- Title
- Influence of dietary supplementation of short-chain fatty acid sodium propionate in people living with HIV (PLHIV)
- Type
- Clinical trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Brauckmann V, Nambiar S, Potthoff A, et al (2022). Influence of dietary supplementation of short-chain fatty acid sodium propionate in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. doi:10.1111/jdv.18006PubMed 35176190DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error