title: A locally produced nutritional supplement in community-based HIV and AIDS patients.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Spartan Health Sciences University, St Lucia, West Indies. bejufemi@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Oluwafemi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oguntibeju
authors.forename: Wilhelmina Maria Jacoba
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: van den Heever
authors.forename: Frances Elizabeth
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Van Schalkwyk
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D032083:Citrus paradisi; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D019247:HIV Wasting Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D027802:Hypoxis; D008239:Lysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D031658:Olea; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D012639:Seeds; D013019:South Africa; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014815:Vitamins; C013411:biocytin; D008239:Lysine