A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol accelerates simian immunodeficiency virus disease progression

Several lines of evidence suggest that dietary fat and cholesterol may play a role in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and disease progression. We examined the effect that an atherogenic diet ( AD) high in saturated fatty acids and cholesterol has on disease progression and systemic inflammation in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected macaque model of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Macaques fed an AD had significantly more rapid disease progression, resulting in an increased risk of SIV-related death compared with that in control macaques (hazard ratio, 5.4 [95% confidence interval, 1.7-17.0];). Peak viral load was higher in the AD group compared with control values, but further statistically P < .001 significant differences were not detected at viral set point. The baseline plasma interleukin-18 level after 6 months of the AD was predictive of disease progression. Our findings may have important implications for HIV-infected individuals, because they suggest that dietary changes and manipulation of lipid metabolism could offer potential benefits by slowing disease progression.