Treating aids and HIV infection with methionine

Abstract

This invention concerns novel safe compositions containing as an active antioxidant or antiinflammatory agent and thiol-repleting agent, the amino acid methionine, and/or one or more related compounds including certain metabolic precursor compounds, and novel methods employing the compositions for treating or amelio-rating symptoms of human immunodeficiency virus infection and AIDS, such as weight loss, increased red cell sedimentation, and leukoplakia; novel methods employing the compositions for treating or inhibiting symptoms resulting from nutritional deficiencies of methionine; and novel methods employing the compositions for inhibiting or preventing triglyceride elevation due to low dose methionine consumption. The compounds include the methionine hydroxy analogs, as well as compounds having the structural formula ##STR1## 1-, dl- or d- form and pharmaceutically acceptable N- (mono- and di-carboxylic acid) acyl derivatives and alkyl esters thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.