Effect of ingestion of mate tea and chocolate in the endothelium of individuals with HIV / AIDS.

There is growing interest in identifying markers for risk of cardiovascular events in HIV/AIDS infected patients. Studies demonstrate that patients being treated with antiretroviral therapy for high-power (HAART) show high concentrations in markers of activation of the endothelium. Epidemiological studies suggest benefits of cocoa on human health accumulating evidence that some forms of cocoa and chocolate rich in flavonoids improve cardiovascular function by improving endothelial function. In the same way, clinical studies with mate tea have shown positive vasodilators biological effects. Objective: Evaluate the impact of ingestion of mate tea and chocolate in the endothelium of individuals with HIV/AIDS. Methodology: Randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind crossover trial of 180 volunteer’s patient of HIV/AIDS clinic specializing, aged 19 and 49 years, in ART treatment for at least six months. Individuals will be supplemented for 105 days (washout of 15 days) with 75g of chocolate bar (containing 36g cocoa powder) and 200mL of mate tea, prepared as required by the manufacturer. They will be checked markers anthropometric, biochemical, immunological and inflammatory, and will be measured elasticity of large and small arteries and pulse-wave velocity.
Categorical variables are described with the number of individuals and percentage of each category. ANOVA will be used to assess differences in responses between intra-individual treatments on the variables of interest. The paired sample test will be used to compare baseline values of all variables, before and after supplementation.
Excel 2011 for Windows will be used for information storage. Data will be analyzed with the software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 13.0 for Windows and Stata version 11.0. p <0.05.

If the intervention with mate tea and cocoa in individuals with HIV on HAART can improve the cardiovascular risk profile to prevent or reduce high blood concentrations of inflammatory markers, lipoproteins (LDL, VLDL) and triglyceride levels, reduce oxidative stress, promoting improvement of endothelium and vessel elasticity.

Baseline, 15days, 45 days, 75 days and 105 days.

Individuals are supplemented with 65g chocolate bars containing cocoa 36g and 300 mL of mate tea. As placebo tablets were formulated without cocoa and 300 mL of prepared liquid with similar appearance and aroma to the mate tea.

The whole intervention period is 105 days divided into four phases, each of which lasts 15 days, followed by a washout in the same time. In phase I, 180 subjects were randomized to ensure the receipt of one of four possible supplementation in phase II will be held in rotation supplementation, the same occurring in stages III and IV, thus ensuring that all volunteers participate in the four treatments.

Supplementation is daily and membership is confirmed by personal contact or telephone.