A locally produced nutritional supplement in community-based HIV and AIDS patients

Int J Palliat Nurs. 2007 Apr;13(4):154-62. doi: 10.12968/ijpn.2007.13.4.23485.

Abstract

This study examined the potential effect of a nutritional supplement on the anthropometric profiles (body measurements such as body mass index [BMI], fat percentage and waist-hip ratio) of HIV-positive/AIDS patients and the correlation between anthropometric profile, CD4+T cell count and viral load. At baseline, of the 35 patients recruited into the study, 32 (94.1%) showed a fat percentage below normal range. Twenty-four of the patients (68.6%) had a BMI within normal range, while a greater percentage of the patients had a normal waist-hip ratio. Of the 28 patients that completed the study, 26 (96.3%) reported a fat percentage of below 18.5%. The results showed that 19 (67.9%) of the 28 patients had a BMI within the normal range after nutrient intervention. There was a significant positive correlation between the BMI and fat percentage. At the end of the study the CD4+T cell count showed no correlation with any of the anthropometric indices while the viral load showed a significant negative correlation with the lean body mass and BMI. The short duration of the study probably limited the positive trend of the supplement.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anthropometry
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Body Mass Index
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Citrus paradisi
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Female
  • HIV Wasting Syndrome / diagnosis
  • HIV Wasting Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • HIV Wasting Syndrome / virology
  • Humans
  • Hypoxis
  • Lysine / analogs & derivatives
  • Lysine / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Nutrition Assessment
  • Nutritional Status
  • Olea
  • Phytotherapy / methods*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
  • Plant Leaves
  • Seeds
  • South Africa
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viral Load
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use
  • Waist-Hip Ratio

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Plant Extracts
  • Vitamins
  • biocytin
  • Lysine