Surreal illustration symbolizing naringin's protective effects on organs affected by HIV drug side effects.

Naringin: A Natural Shield Against HIV Drug Side Effects?

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Can this citrus flavonoid combat dyslipidemia and oxidative stress induced by HIV protease inhibitors?"

Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has transformed HIV-1 infection management, significantly decreasing mortality and morbidity. This therapeutic approach uses Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs), Non-Nucleosides Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs), Protease Inhibitors (PIs), Integrase Inhibitors, and Entry/Fusion Inhibitors, offering various options tailored to individual patient needs. However, while cART has dramatically improved the quality of life for individuals with HIV, the long-term use of these medications is associated with metabolic complications that can undermine their health.

A significant concern is the development of metabolic complications, particularly with HIV PI-based regimens, leading to dyslipidemia, lipodystrophy, and insulin resistance. These conditions elevate the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, posing a challenge to long-term health management. Dyslipidemia, characterized by increased LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) and triglycerides (TG) and decreased HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c), affects up to 50% of patients undergoing PI treatment, exacerbated by viral pathogenesis.

Given these challenges, researchers are exploring interventions to mitigate PI-associated metabolic complications. While strategies like switching antiretroviral agents, surgical options, and various medications have had limited success, natural compounds like naringin are gaining attention. Naringin, a flavonoid from Citrus paradise, exhibits anti-atherogenic, anti-dyslipidemic, and antioxidant properties. This article delves into a study investigating naringin’s potential to counteract dyslipidemia and oxidative stress induced by HIV PIs.

Naringin's Protective Mechanisms: How Does It Work?

Surreal illustration symbolizing naringin's protective effects on organs affected by HIV drug side effects.

A study published in the "Journal of Functional Foods" (2019) investigated the protective effects of naringin against dyslipidemia and oxidative stress induced by HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PIs). Conducted in vivo using male Wistar rats, the research involved daily oral treatments of atazanavir (ATV) or saquinavir (SQV), with and without naringin, over 56 days. The results highlighted significant improvements in several key health markers.

The core findings demonstrated that naringin can significantly mitigate the adverse effects of ATV and SQV. The study meticulously tracked various parameters to understand naringin’s impact:

Body Weight: Naringin helped counteract the weight loss typically associated with ATV or SQV treatments.
Lipid Profile: It improved dyslipidemia by reducing total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, and VLDL-cholesterol concentrations while increasing HDL-cholesterol levels.
Atherogenic Index: Naringin reduced the calculated atherogenic index, indicating a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Oxidative Stress: It decreased lipid peroxidation and carbonyl protein concentrations in plasma, liver, and pancreas tissues, enhancing antioxidant activities in the liver and pancreas.

These results suggest that naringin operates through multiple pathways, enhancing lipid metabolism and reducing oxidative stress. These mechanisms could provide significant clinical benefits, helping to prevent metabolic complications in HIV patients.

Future Implications: Integrating Naringin into HIV Treatment Strategies

The study's findings open new avenues for adjunctive therapies that could improve the health outcomes for individuals undergoing HIV treatment. Naringin's ability to counteract dyslipidemia and oxidative stress suggests it may be a valuable addition to existing treatment strategies. Further research is needed to determine the optimal dosage and delivery methods of naringin, as well as its long-term effects and potential interactions with other medications. If these findings translate into clinical practice, naringin could offer a natural, accessible way to mitigate the metabolic complications associated with HIV protease inhibitors, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for those living with HIV.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What is naringin, and why is it being researched in the context of HIV treatment?

Naringin is a flavonoid found in citrus fruits, known for its anti-atherogenic, anti-dyslipidemic, and antioxidant properties. It's being explored for its potential to counteract dyslipidemia and oxidative stress induced by HIV protease inhibitors (PIs). Naringin works by enhancing lipid metabolism and reducing oxidative stress, offering a natural way to mitigate metabolic complications in HIV patients. While the study focuses on Naringin, other flavonoids and natural compounds are also being researched for similar benefits.

What are HIV protease inhibitors, and what are some of the complications associated with their use?

HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) are a class of drugs used in combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) to manage HIV-1 infection. While PIs are effective in reducing mortality and morbidity, their long-term use is associated with metabolic complications such as dyslipidemia, lipodystrophy, and insulin resistance. These conditions elevate the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, posing a challenge to long-term health management. Dyslipidemia, specifically, is characterized by increased LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides and decreased HDL-cholesterol. The role of other antiretroviral drug classes in these complications is also an ongoing area of study.

What is dyslipidemia, and why is it a concern for individuals undergoing HIV treatment?

Dyslipidemia, in the context of HIV treatment, refers to an imbalance of lipids (fats) in the blood, characterized by increased LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) and triglycerides (TG) and decreased HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c). It's a significant concern because it elevates the risk of cardiovascular diseases in HIV patients undergoing protease inhibitor (PI) treatment. Naringin has shown promise in improving lipid profiles by reducing total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, and VLDL-cholesterol concentrations while increasing HDL-cholesterol levels. Other factors like diet and exercise are also important to manage dyslipidemia.

What specific benefits related to metabolic health were observed in the study on naringin's effects?

The study found that naringin helped counteract weight loss typically associated with atazanavir (ATV) or saquinavir (SQV) treatments. It improved dyslipidemia by reducing total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, and VLDL-cholesterol concentrations while increasing HDL-cholesterol levels. Naringin also reduced the calculated atherogenic index, indicating a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and decreased lipid peroxidation and carbonyl protein concentrations in plasma, liver, and pancreas tissues, enhancing antioxidant activities in the liver and pancreas. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects and optimal usage of naringin.

What is combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), and why is it important in the context of managing HIV infection?

Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is a therapeutic approach that uses multiple drugs, including Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs), Non-Nucleosides Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs), Protease Inhibitors (PIs), Integrase Inhibitors, and Entry/Fusion Inhibitors, to manage HIV-1 infection. cART has significantly decreased mortality and morbidity, improving the quality of life for individuals with HIV. However, long-term use can lead to metabolic complications, such as dyslipidemia, highlighting the need for adjunctive therapies like naringin to mitigate these side effects. The specific combination of drugs within cART is tailored to individual patient needs.