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Scientist slams health minister's AIDS diet

    JOHANNESBURG

    South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang last week recommended a combination of garlic, onions, virgin olive oil and the African potato to boost the immune systems of people living with HIV/AIDS.

    However, a local immunology professor on Tuesday said the African potato turned the food combination into a lethal concoction.

    "Very few substances in the African potato are known. Studies conducted on house cats infected with HIV show the virus progresses more rapidly in those treated with the African potato," University of Stellenbosch immunology professor, Patrick Bouic, told the UN news service PlusNews.

    Bouic said while certain properties of the African potato were beneficial to the progress of immune boosters, they eventually suppressed the immune system.

    "Prescribing the African potato to people with HIV is dangerous because it suppresses their immune systems," University of Stellenbosch immunology professor, Patrick Bouic, told the UN news service PlusNews.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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