Nutritional status of HIV-1 seropositive patients in the Free State Province of South Africa : Anthropometric and dietary profile

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 165 - 173
• Main Authors: DANNHAUSER, A, VAN STADEN, A. M, VAN DER RYST, E, NEL, M, MARAIS, N, ERASMUS, E, ATTWOOD, E. M, BARNARD, H. C, LE ROUX, G. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01-03-1999; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - physiopathology; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Anthropometry; Arm; Arm circumference; Ascorbic acid; Biological and medical sciences; Body Height; Body Mass Index; Body measurements; Body size; Body Weight; Bone mass; CD4 antigen; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Diet; Dietary intake; Dietary supplements; Female; Food intake; HIV; HIV Seropositivity - physiopathology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immune response; Immunology; Infectious diseases; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Male; Malnutrition; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Muscles; Nutrition; Nutritional Status; Patients; Skinfold Thickness; South Africa; Tropical medicine; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Vitamin A; Vitamin B6; Vitamin D; Vitamins - administration & dosage; South Africa(Republic); Africa; South Africa; Human; Immunopathology; Pathophysiology; Anthropometry; Nutrition disorder; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Infection; Clinical stage; Food intake; Viral disease; Malnutrition; Nutritional status; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600691

To evaluate the nutritional intake and status of HIV-1 seropositive patients, as well as the relationship between malnutrition and disease stage.
A cross-sectional study.
The Immunology Clinic at the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Eighty-one HIV/AIDS patients in different stages of disease were recruited consecutively from January to May 1995. Eleven of these patients were followed in 1997.
Anthropometric data including current weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-upper-arm circumference, body mass index and bone-free arm muscle area were collected. Nutrient intake was estimated using a diet history in combination with a standardised food frequency questionnaire. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their CD4+ T cell counts.
The men were leaner (BMI = 18.9) than the women (BMI = 22.7) and patients with a CD4+ T cell count < 200 (stage III) tended to have the lowest median values for all anthropometric measurements. More than half the patients had a low intake (< 67% of the recommended dietary allowances) of vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin D, vitamin A, calcium, iron and zinc.
The results confirms that HIV/AIDS patients from this population are malnourished. There was, however, no association between disease stage and nutritional status. Nutritional supplementation of HIV/AIDS patients should be considered, as this might lead to improved immune function in these patients.