Diet quality of persons living with HIV/AIDS on highly active antiretroviral therapy.
BACKGROUND
This study sought to assess the diet quality of individuals living with HIV/AIDS who were receiving antiretroviral therapy in São Paulo, Brazil.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study involved 56 HIV-infected adults. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected, and diet quality was measured using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), modified for Brazilians, which included ten components: adequacy of intake of six different food groups, total fat, cholesterol, dietary fibre and dietary variety.


RESULTS
Among the individuals assessed, 64.3% of the participants had a diet needing improvement, while 8.7% had a poor diet. The overall HEI score was 68.3 points (SD = 14.9). Mean scores were low for fruits, vegetables, dairy products and dietary fibre; and high for meats and eggs, total fat and cholesterol. The overall HEI score was higher among individuals who were not overweight (P = 0.003), who were also more likely to achieve dietary goals for dairy products (P = 0.039) and grains (P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Most of these adults living with HIV/AIDS had diets that required improvement, and being overweight was associated with poorer diet quality. Nutritional interventions aimed at maintaining healthy body weight and diet should be taken into account in caring for HIV-infected people.
Duran
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AC
Nutrition Department, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. anaduran@usp.br
Almeida
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LB
Segurado
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AA
Jaime
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PC
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D003710:Demography; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D014675:Vegetables