AIDS/ARC and BHT

Published in SAN FRANCISCO SENTINEL, August 15, 1986;also published as AIDS TREATMENT NEWS #10.


UPDATE JANUARY 1987: At least two physicians have received a note from Dr. Prem Sarin of the Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, stating that "both BHA and BHT have been tested and found to be inactive against HTLV-III replication".

For several reasons this note does not end our interest in BHT. We hope to look into the matter more deeply to find out what test was run, and also what other chemicals have been tested.

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BHT, a chemical used commercially as a food preservative, has also shown antiviral effects in scientific tests. Though no medical uses have been officially approved, many people have used it for controlling herpes, and a few for AIDS or ARC. BHTdoes cross the blood-brain barrier.

Unlike many other experimental AIDS treatments, BHT is readily available in many health-food stores and by mail order. And expense isn't a problem because BHT costs so little that twenty dollars can buy a three-year supply.

This paper will outline the arguments for and against the antiviral use of BHT, list some precautions, and tell readers how to find out more about it.


The Scientific Case for BHT

Scientists first became interested in BHT as an antiviral by accident, when their virus cultures failed to grow in media containing the substance. More research showed that only lipid-coated viruses were affected. (The AIDS virus, and also the opportunistic infection cytomegalovirus (CMV), are lipid coated.) The team that discovered this effect of BHT, at
Pennsylvania State University, published the first paper on it (Snipes and others, 1975).

BHT has been found to inhibit or inactivate every lipid-coated virus against which it was tried, including herpes (Freeman and others, 1985; Keith and others, 1982; Richards and others, 1985), cytomegalovirus (CMV) (Kim and others, 1978), Newcastle disease virus in poultry (Brugh 1977; Winston 1980) and other viruses. In the laboratory, it worked especially
well against CMV. It does not affect other kinds of viruses that are not lipid coated, such as polio.

No one knows for sure how BHT has this effect. One theory is that it removes the lipid coat, allowing antibodies to attack the core of the virus. Another theory is that it removes a particular protein from the coating of the virus, preventing the virus from attaching itself to a healthy cell. This mode of action may be unique among antivirals.

Since BHT has worked with all lipid-coated viruses tested, and AIDS is lipid coated, it would be worthwhile to try the same laboratory test with the AIDS virus. At least one scientist wants to perform this work, but it has been difficult to get the needed funding, fifteen thousand dollars. (One organization may want to fund this work, but it can only award
grants to non-profit institutions like universities, not to individuals or corporations; and no one has yet been found who knows this scene and can make the necessary arrangements. Anyone who could help in getting this research going should call Stephen Fowkes at the MegaHealth Society, in Los Altos, CA, (415) 949-0919.)

What about human or animal tests of BHT with the AIDS virus? No one has done such a study, and as far as we know, there is no official interest in doing one. But a handful of published reports describe tests of BHT with other lipid-coated viruses IN VIVO (in animals or humans, not in a laboratory dish): two in chickens, one in mice, one in guinea pigs, one in rabbits, and one in humans. All were successful, to varying
degrees.

The studies using chickens (cited above) tried to determine whether feed additives were responsible for agricultural vaccination failures. An incidental finding in the studies showed that BHT protected chickens against Newcastle disease, caused by a lipid-coated virus.

In mice, BHT reduced the healing time for herpes lesions when applied topically to the sores (Keith and others, 1982). In guinea pigs, topical BHT shortened the time of the original herpes infection, but not of recurrences (Richards and others, 1985. This study is difficult to interpret, since most of the placebo animals died during the initial infection; anyone
interested in this report should read the entire paper, not just the abstract.) In rabbits, BHT in their diet reduced the severity and death rate from herpes eye infections (Coohill and others, 1983).

We can find only one published scientific study of BHT used as an antiviral in humans. In this double-blind test, published in 1985, BHT or placebo was applied topically to herpes sores, but late in their development, after the patients had arrived at the clinic. BHT caused a small but definite improvement. Researchers speculated that BHT might possibly
be effective even when the virus travels directly from cell to cell (Freeman and others, 1985).


The Case Against BHT

People who use BHT as an antiviral (or who take it to slow the aging process and extend lifespan, an effect found in some animal studies), take about a thousand times as much as most people obtain in the average American diet. The biggest concern about BHT, whether used as a medicine or a food preservative, is that it has promoted cancer in some animal experiments.

Due to the widespread use of BHT in food, many studies have fed large amounts of it to animals to investigate cancer and other risks. The results are complex and contradictory, with experts disagreeing on its safety as a food additive.

What seems to emerge from the recent studies is that BHT does not cause cancer by itself. But in some cases, it can increase the occurrence of tumors in animals exposed to known carcinogens (Ito and others, 1985; Tsuda and others, 1984). In other cases, however, BHT prevents cancer, and actually protects the animals from it. (Incidentally, these studies
shown that BHA, another food additive, is more dangerous than BHT, and can cause cancer by itself. Some vitamin companies sell BHA; we suggest that people avoid it.)

The bottom line is that nobody really knows what the cancer risk is - if any - from BHT. The possibility cannot be ignored; anyone who uses BHT should consider it.

Another concern is the danger of overdose. BHT cannot be used like vitamin C, which has a huge safety factor. Some people use as much as two grams a day of BHT; animal studies suggest that ten times that amount would be close to a fatal dose.

Last year, two published reports attacked the popular use of BHT for herpes or for life extension. "The Saga of BHT and BHA in Life Extension Myths" (Llaurado 1985) played down the concern about cancer, but cited a 1957 study by the same author in which he had fed one gram per day of BHT to rabbits through a stomach tube. Not surprisingly, the rabbits died. The
author concludes by urging the FDA to ban BHT except for its use as a preservative.

The other report was a letter from two physicians at the University of California, Los Angeles (Shlian and Goldstone, 1986). They cite the cancer danger and the rabbit study, and also report a case of severe stomach problems in a person who ate four grams of BHT on an empty stomach. The patient required hospitalization, but recovered after several days.
(We point out that most BHT users recommend that no one should take more than two grams per day, perhaps no more than one; that they should start with small doses and work up, and - probably - not take BHT on an empty stomach.)


BHT and Herpes

Most of the current popular interest in antiviral uses of BHT stemmed from two books by Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw: Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach, and The Life Extension Companion. Pearson and Shaw began using two grams of BHT per day in 1968, for life extension; in 1974 they reported that a doctor had tried it for 150 patients who had herpes.
Almost all of them achieved remission.

Another of the best-informed groups on the antiviral use of BHT is the MegaHealth Society, with offices in Los Altos, CA, and Manhattan Beach, CA. Steven Fowkes in the Los Altos office has been talking with users and collecting their reports for six years. He also co-authored a book, Wipe Out Herpes With BHT, with John Mann, published by the MegaHealth Society
and available from them or at some health-food stores. Fowkes is now trying to bring BHT to public attention as a possible treatment for AIDS.

Fowkes has spoken with or corresponded with hundreds of people using BHT for herpes; we asked him about the overall success rate. He said that most of those who call him are the ones for whom it has failed to work. Usually they have taken less than one gram per day of BHT orally, and when they raise the dose, and take the BHT with some vegetable oil or lecithin
to help it dissolve, it often works. About a third of those who call are not able to get good results with anything he suggests.

On the other hand, the vast majority of those who write report good results; usually they are writing to offer thanks. Some also report temporary skin reactions; almost always these are people on low-fat diets. Half of those who write say that their skin has improved since they started taking BHT.

BHT can be taken in capsules, or the crystals can be dissolved in vegetable oil. Taking it in oil may be more effective, but most people use the capsules because they don't like working with powders. The capsules should probably be taken with fatty foods, since BHT dissolves in fat, but not in water. Both forms are available in some health-food stores, or
from health-products companies such as Vitamin Research Products in Mt. View, CA., or Twin Laboratories in Ronkonkoma, N.Y.


BHT and AIDS

Fowkes has barely begun to talk with people who are using BHT for AIDS or ARC. He has been trying to bring the matter to public attention, but it hasn't been easy.

Last August, he wrote a four-page letter on the use of BHT as a possible AIDS treatment to several dozen public officials and scientists. The only response was a single polite thank- you from one scientist. Clearly we cannot wait for any authorities to begin testing BHT. As we have seen repeatedly, after the lip service is done, saving lives is not a priority of U.S. public policy on AIDS - if it is even a goal.

One company, Key Pharmaceuticals in Miami, has a patent on antiviral use of BHT, so it does have an interest in research. This company helped finance the double-blind herpes study mentioned above, and it may receive approval to market a BHT ointment for the treatment of herpes. We have also heard rumors of good preliminary results of human tests of BHT
against CMV, an opportunistic infection which, like AIDS, is caused by a lipid-coated virus.

In San Francisco, we spoke with Jim Gulli, who has used BHT for ARC for almost a year. Before using BHT, he had serious health problems; since then he has been in good health. His helper T-cell count was 200 to 300 for two years, but since using BHT it has gone up with every test, and was over 800 when last tested four months ago. Suppressor cells went from 1000 to 1500. His swollen lymph nodes remain swollen, but the night
sweats are gone. He had had unusual, sharp headaches for a year; these cleared up within a month of starting BHT, and are gone completely.

Gulli takes one gram of BHT, dissolved in linseed and sesame oils, once daily. Since it takes about a day of occasional shaking to dissolve the crystals, he prepares a month's supply at a time, adding about 35 grams of BHT to 70 tablespoons of the oils; one tablespoon from each of the two oils then provides a total of one gram. He experienced side
effects at first - some light-headedness, and loss of appetite for two to three weeks - but no problems after that.

Gulli knows several other people who are using BHT for AIDS or ARC, and he hopes to start an information group for those doing so. He can be reached at the address below.


Some Precautions

Here are some warnings which we have heard from people who are using BHT. This list is not complete, and some of the items could be wrong. Do not rely on this article for medical advice; we are reporting these precautions for information only.

* Before deciding to use BHT, consider the risks. BHT should not be used casually.

* BHT should be avoided by anyone with hepatitis or other liver problems.

* Beware of overdose, especially if you measure the crystals yourself. Note that doses should be proportional to body weight. The two people we spoke with who use BHT for AIDS/ARC are taking no more than one gram per day.

* BHT is fat soluble, so thin people may need less. Also, persons on low-fat diets may be more susceptible to side effects.

* BHT can interfere with blood clotting, so it might be a special risk for persons with ITP, hemophilia, or other clotting problems.

* Persons with AIDS, especially KS, can react to medicines in unexpected ways. Since no published studies exists on AIDS and BHT, no one knows whether there are any untoward side effects specific to persons with AIDS. Anyone with personal information on BHT and AIDS is encouraged to contact one of the people listed at the end of this article who will distribute
this information to others.

* When BHT is being used, it is a good idea to take vitamin C also.

* Doses of BHT should start small and gradually increase. It is probably not harmful to stop abruptly, however, because BHT stays in the body for several weeks.

* A few people are chemically sensitive to BHT. One study (Fisherman and Cohen, 1973) gave test doses to persons who already had allergy or asthma problems, to see if BHT in food was the cause. In those who reacted to BHT, a 250 mg dose (half that amount for severe asthmatics) caused a flare-up of the problem; some of the asthmatics needed medical treatment to
stop the attack. The reactions always showed up within 75 minutes. While such reactions were rare, they do reinforce the advice that small doses be used at first.

* In research studies, BHT has changed the sensitivity of animals to radiation damage. When it is first used, sensitivity is increased; later, sensitivity is decreased. Anyone receiving radiation treatments should be sure to tell their doctor if they are using BHT.

* Maintain a balanced diet. One study gave toxic doses of BHT to rats, and found these doses caused more damage to animals that were on a protein-deficient diet.

* Alcohol should be avoided for at least several hours after taking BHT. Alcohol may have a stronger effect than usual, so be especially careful about driving.

* Some people at least should avoid taking BHT on an empty stomach.

* There may be special risks to using BHT during pregnancy.

* BHT can interact with other drugs. It can either increase or decrease their effects. Some drug interactions may be unknown, but a pharmacist may be able to help.

* Always let your doctor know what you are doing. With BHT, as with any experimental or alternative treatment, you should research and understand the treatment yourself. Share what you have learned with your doctor. Most of them will be more sympathetic if they know that you have done your homework.

* If you use BHT, it may be a good idea to invest twenty dollars in a kilogram of the crystals - a three-year supply - to guard against the possibility that sales might be banned down the road.


Summary

Published scientific evidence strongly suggests that BHT might help in treating AIDS or ARC, as well as certain opportunistic infections, especially CMV, and that the risks can be kept small. It has been proved effective on every other lipid-coated virus on which it has been tried, and has worked as an antiviral in animals and in laboratory tests. The only
human antiviral test, topical use for herpes, was also successful.

But we don't know with certainty whether BHT will help for AIDS or ARC, because no one has done the research, either in the laboratory or with patients. An unknown number of people are using BHT for AIDS or ARC on their own, but there is no way to contact them, and many don't want to talk publicly. For CMV, often a major problem with AIDS/ARC, there is more
evidence that BHT may be effective, as it has been tested against the virus in the laboratory and worked well; however, there are currently no published human studies.

This writer talked personally with two people now using BHT for ARC. One seemed definitely to have benefitted; the other is enthusiastic but is taking it on faith, and has no clear evidence of whether or not it helped.

No one expects BHT to be a cure. But if it can help in the management of AIDS and/or CMV, it would have value now until better treatments become available.

We urgently need scientific studies which could obtain definite answers on BHT's effectiveness. This research could be done quickly and inexpensively, since BHT is readily available in high purity for human use, and much of the preliminary work such as animal safety studies has already been done. Meanwhile, we should support those who are using BHT on
their own, and collect and publish anecdotal information when possible.


For More Information

To find out about the use of BHT for AIDS or ARC, write to BHT Information Group, c/o Jim Gulli, 3851 21st St., San Francisco, CA 94114.

For background information on BHT as an antiviral or for life extension, contact Steven Fowkes at the MegaHealth Society, 994 Acacia Ave., Los Altos, CA 94022, phone (415) 949- 0919. The MegaHealth Society serves as a clearinghouse for BHT information. It also publishes a quarterly newsletter, which will include new developments in the use of BHT for herpes and
for AIDS.


References

Brugh M. Butylated hydroxytoluene protects chickens exposed to Newcastle disease virus. Science 197, p 1291-1292, 1977.

Coohill TP, Ferrell BR, Carson D, and Elliott LP. Orally administered butylated hydroxytoluene inhibits herpes simplex virus (type I) infection in rabbits. Presented at the Eighty- third Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, New Orleans, LA (abstract number S41) March 6-11, 1983.

Denz FA and Llaurado, JG. Some effects of phenolic anti- oxidants on sodium and potassium balance in the rabbit. British Journal of Experimental Pathology, Vol 38(5), p 515- 552, 1957.

Fisherman EW and Cohen G. Chemical intolerance to butylated- hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated-hydroxytoluene (BHT) and vascular response as an indicator and monitor of drug intolerance. Ann Allergy 31(3), p 126-133, March 1973.

Franklyn RA. Butylated hydroxytoluene in sarcoma-prone dogs. The Lancet, p 1296, June 12, 1976.

Freeman DJ, Wenerstrom G and Spruance SL. Treatment of recurrent herpes simplex labialis with topical butylated hydroxytoluene. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 38, p 56-59, 1985.

Ito N, Fukushima S and Tsuda H. Carcinogenicity and modification of the carcinogenic response by BHA, BHT, and other antioxidants. Critical Reviews In Toxicology 15(2) p 109-150, 1985.

Keith AD, Arruda D, Snipes W and Frost P. The antiviral effectiveness of butylated hydroxytoluene on herpes cutaneous infections in hairless mice. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 170, p 237-244, 1982.

Kim KS, Moon HM, Sapienza V, Carp RI and Pullarkat R. Inactivation of cytomegalovirus and Semliki Forest virus by butylated hydroxytoluene. The Journal of Infectious Diseases 138(1), p 91-94, July 1978.

Llaurado JG. The saga of BHT and BHA in life extension myths. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 4, p 481-484, 1985.

Mann JA and Fowkes, SW. Wipe Out Herpes With BHT. Megahealth Society, P.O. Box 1684, Manhattan Beach, CA, 1983.

Pearson D and Shaw S. The herpes epidemic: a possible solution. In The Life Extension Companion, Warner Books, New York, NY, 1984.

Richards JT, Katz ME and Kern, ER. Topical butylated hydroxytoluene treatment of genital herpes simplex virus infections of guinea pigs. Antiviral Research 5, pages 281- 290, 1985.

Shlian DM and Goldstone J. Toxicity of butylated hydroxytoluene. New England Journal of Medicine, p 648-649, March 6, 1986.

Snipes W, Person S, Keith A and Cupp J. Butylated hydroxytoluene inactivates lipid-coated viruses. Science 188, p 64-66, April 4, 1975.

Tsuda H, Fukushima S, Imaida K, Sakata T and Ito N. Modification of carcinogenesis by antioxidants and other compounds. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol 55 (Supplement 2), p 125- 143, 1984.

Winston VD, Bolen JB and Consigli RA. Effect of butylated hydroxytoluene on Newcastle Disease virus. American Journal of Veterinary Research 41(3), p 391-394, 1980.

Witschi HP. Enhancement of lung tumor formation in mice. Carcinogenesis 8, page 147-158, 1985.