E-mail address: twesigedaniel@yahoo.

com Mob: +256-752445244 Title: GRAIN AMARANTH & ITS MANAGEMENT OF HIV/AIDS & OTHER OPPORTUNISTIC DISEASES. Author: Twesige Daniel Ngobi Research Location: Iwawu Village Iganga Uganda. Introduction: of PLWA in Uganda are in the rural areas. These are the marginalized and poor people in the country, who hardly have access to ARVs, and a few who can, have no money to buy a full doze, leave alone the adverse events of antiretroviral drugs. Working with Unity Church of Christ (Grain Amaranth Development Project), whose leaders have a call to serve the local poor and marginalized groups, I felt concerned to find a way these village & financially poor but rich with resources could use the available resources to help themselves against HIV/AIDS epidemic & its effects. Knowing the nutritional values of grain amaranth, I felt it the best option to find out its potential on such people. Method: I selected 20 PLWA, who were orphans, widows or widowers from very poor families and were in Intermediary-advanced stages (with 500<CD4>200). Of these, 10 were children and 10 were adults. These were put on a special diet, which included Grain amaranth as below: 3 children & 3 adults used antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and added grain amaranth foods to their diet 4 children and 4 adults only had a certain proportion of grain amaranth foods added to their diet 2 children and 2 adults were only using the antiretroviral drug but having their normal diet without grain amaranth 1 adult and 1 child acted as a control for 4 months, and these were neither using antiretroviral drugs nor were they having a diet with grain amaranth foods. Different amaranth food products were given in different proportions and at different intervals. CD4 count rate tests were made after every 3 months for 9 months. Body: Grain amaranth contains exceptionally high levels of Lysine, Methionine, Cysteine & Tryptophan, on addition to the high quality protein exhibited, i.e. 75-82% protein. If combined with other cereals, the resulting amino acid complement can be near 100%, the ideal protein balance for human needs.

Lysine is an essential amino acid and is a basic building block of all protein. It is required for growth and bone development in children, assists in calcium absorption, maintaining the correct nitrogen balance in the body and maintaining lean body mass. It is also needed to produce antibodies, hormones, enzymes, collagen formation as well as repair of tissue. Since it helps with the building of muscle protein, it is useful for patients recovering from injuries and recovery after operations, and there might be use in lysine to help maintain healthy blood vessels. It also assists in fighting herpes and cold sores - a common problem with PLWA. Methionine is a sulfur containing essential amino acid. It is a precursor to the amino acids cystine and cysteine. It assists in the breakdown of fats as well as assisting with the digestive system and removing heavy metals from the body since it can be converted to cysteine, which is a precursor to gluthione, which is of prime importance in detoxifying the liver. The amino acid methionine is also a great antioxidant as the sulfur it supplies inactivates free radicals. It may also be used to treat depression, arthritis pain as well as chronic liver disease - although these claims are still under investigation. Some studies have also indicated that methionine might improve memory recall. It is also one of the three amino acids needed by the body to manufacture creatine monohydrate, a compound essential for energy production and muscle building. Cysteine is a sulfur containing non-essential amino acid and is closely related to cystine, as cystine consists of two cysteine molecules joined together. It is an unstable nutrient and easily converts to cystine, but this does not cause a problem, since both can convert into the other as required by the body. The skin, as well as body detoxification, requires cysteine. It is found in beta-keratin, the main protein in nails, skin as well as hair. It not only is important in collagen production but also assists in skin elasticity and texture. Cysteine is also required in the manufacture of the amino acid taurine and is a component of the antioxidant gluthione. It is useful to detoxify the body from harmful toxins and help protect the brain and liver from damage from alcohol, drugs etc. It has also been found that it may help in strengthening the protective lining of the stomach as well as intestines, which may help prevent damage caused by aspirin and similar drugs. Cysteine is also critical to the metabolism of a number of essential biochemicals including coenzyme A, heparin, biotin, lipoid acid, and glutathione.

Results: In the first 3 months, those patients who were neither on ARVs nor having grain amaranth added to their daily diet had lost their weight, there CD4 count was less their initial and they were constantly falling ill. After six months, I found out that those patients who were taking ARVs only had a lot of complications like vomiting, malaria, headache, rash, taste perversion, general body weakness, loss of hair, blisters and other complications that needed complex tests. 1 patient got TB. There CD4 count rate had increased by 10%. Those feeding on grain amaranth alongside ARVs, had a few complications like headache, & malaria. However, these were on a regular basis, and they hardly fell sick There CD4 count rate doubled. Those who werent taking antiretroviral drugs but added grain amaranth foods to their diet showed promising results for the 9 months of experiment. Two of them had cases of malaria registered once. they had a health skin, put on body weight, had normal hair color, and never suffered from herpes and sores at all. There CD4 count rate was increased by 40%. They were strong, and have testimonies to give. Conclusion: As seen from the results, grain amaranth has a remarkable impact on managing HIV/AIDS and the prevention of optimistic diseases. I missed out carrying out many other complex tests like functionality of the liver, kidney cholesterol and triglycerides level e.t.c. due to lack of equipments. This research needed to carry on like for 24 months to get the best results, but due to lack of enough resources, I had to end it in 9 months time. I have realized that if this research involved other natural medicine like Artemisia annua annamed, garlic, along side grain amaranth, then we would have better results. I am calling upon more researchers and those who can give support in any other form to join hands with me such that this research goes on till we get the best results and perhaps a cure to HIV/AIDS.