[Isolated dietary counselling program versus supplement and dietary counselling in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection].
OBJECTIVE
Nutritional intervention is a controversial area. The aim of the study was to compare the influence on nutritional status of nutritional supplementation with a standard polymeric formula as well as nutritional counselling versus isolated nutritional counselling in a group of HIV-infected patients.


METHODS
There were 70 patients, 66 of whom were fully evaluated for each study end point after application of prospectively determined evaluability criteria. Of these, 35 were randomized to group I (standard formula) and 35 were randomized to unsupplemented group II. Group I patients received standard enteral formula (3 cans/day, 250 ml per can). Patients were submitted to a prospective serial assessment of their nutrition status (anthropometric and biochemical status) and the nutritional intake was determined by means of 24-hours written food records. Determinations were performed at baseline and at 3 months.


RESULTS
Treatment with oral supplements in group I resulted in a significant and sustained increase in weight (2.75%; p < 0.05) which was mostly due to fat mass (10.8%; p < 0.05). In contrast, no changes were detected in group II patients. The increase in body weight and tricipital skinfold was significant in group I. Total body water and fat free-mass remained without changes. CD4 counts and viral load remained stable in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral nutritional supplements for a 3-months period resulted in body weight gain in HIV-infected patients, increasing the fat mass. An isolated nutritional counselling did not result in such an increase.
Sección de Endocrinología y Nutrición Clínica. Unidad de Apoyo a la Investigación. Hospital del Río Hortega. Valladolid. Servicio de Medicina Interna. Instituto de Endocrinología y Nutrición (IEN). Valladolid. Spain. dadluis@yahoo.es
Daniel
D
de Luis
Rocío
R
Aller
Pablo
P
Bachiller
Manuel
M
González-Sagrado
Javier
J
de Luis
Olatz
O
Izaola
María Concepción
MC
Terroba
Luis
L
Cuéllar
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D003376:Counseling; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain
D015704:CD4 Antigens