Energy balance
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves BMI and helps regain muscle mass, but weight loss can still occur in a significant proportion of patients on ART, necessitating concurrent nutritional interventions.
Starting ART is a crucial step, but it does not guarantee weight stability. Many patients continue to lose weight or develop wasting even after starting treatment. To maximize health outcomes, combine ART with a balanced diet, physical activity, and management of side effects to ensure adequate energy intake and muscle preservation.
It appears that starting ART improves BMI and that ready-to-use fortified spreads and fortified-blended foods further increase BMI... 58% of all patients (289/497) lost more than 1.5 kg between any two study visits... nearly two-thirds developed wasting for the first time after starting ART [91].
Why this rating
Based on cohort studies showing weight loss patterns in patients on ART.
Source
Role of Nutrition in HIV Infection: Review of Evidence for more Effective Programming in Resource-Limited Settings
Saskia de Pee et al. · Food and Nutrition Bulletin · 2010
DOI 10.1177/15648265100314s403
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- HIV infection causes a state of malnutrition characterized by weight loss, micronutrient deficiencies, and altered metabolism, which accelerates disease progression and increases mortality risk independently of CD4 count.Good
- Micronutrient deficiencies are widespread in HIV infection and are associated with accelerated disease progression, increased mortality, and higher mother-to-child transmission rates, though supplementation outcomes vary.Moderate
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