Dietary interventions and effect of multivitamins on HIV/AIDS

Nutrition & HIV/AIDS are intricately linked. Infection with HIV can lead to malnutrition & the disease progression can be increased by a poor diet. Adequate dietary intake enhances the therapeutic effect of medicines, boosts the immune system, prolongs the progression of HIV infection, increases the longevity & promotes healthy living. Fifty HIV positive subjects in the age group of 20-50 years undergoing ART from different parts of Kerala were selected at random for the study. Diet survey comprised of 24 hour recall of food intake, nutrient intake, anthropometric measurements, clinical examination & biochemical tests are considered as the main objective measures for the assessment of nutritional status. Food & all nutrients including micronutrients of the subject were found to be less than the RDA. BMI showed the picture of malnutrition is either in CED grade I or II. Diet counselling & vitamin supplementation at different levels were found to be effective to improve CD4 count, Hb & VItamin A & D. Nutrition interventions can help to manage symptoms, promote response to medical treatments, slow the progress of disease an increase the quality of life.