title: Rationale and design of a study using a standardized locally procured macronutrient supplement as adjunctive therapy to HIV treatment in Kenya.
abstract: Poor nutritional status at initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is predictive of mortality. Decreased dietary intake is a major determinant of weight loss in HIV. Despite a biological rationale to treat undernutrition in adults receiving ART, few studies have provided data on feasibility, safety, effectiveness, and sustainability of specific macronutrient supplements with HIV treatment in adults, especially supplements such as a food basket, a supplement approach seldom evaluated in spite of its wide use. We present the rationale and design for a study of a locally procured macronutrient supplement given to HIV-infected patients initiating ART with a body mass index (BMI) ≤20.0 kg/m(2). The objective was to determine feasibility of procurement, distribution, safety and to obtain preliminary effectiveness data for a locally procured supplement. The design was a comparative study for 200 adult participants at two Kenya government-supported clinics. The primary outcome was BMI at 24 weeks. Supplement duration was 24 weeks, total follow-up was 48 weeks, and the study included a comparison site. Novel aspects of this study include use of a standardized macronutrient supplement to protect the participant against household food sharing, and a complementary micronutrient supplement. Comprehensive data collected included dietary intake, HIV-related quality-of-life, food security, neuropsychiatric assessments, laboratory studies, and household geomapping. Assessments were made at baseline, at 24 weeks, and at 48 weeks post-ART initiation. Challenges included establishing a partnership with local millers, distribution from the HIV clinic, food safety, and tracking of participants. These findings will help inform nutrition support programming in Kenya and similar settings, and provide needed data regarding use of macronutrient supplements as an adjunctive intervention with ART.
authors: a Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition , Boston Children's Hospital , Boston , MA , USA.
authors: Kevin A
authors: KA
authors: Sztam
authors: Murugi
authors: M
authors: Ndirangu
authors: Muhsin
authors: M
authors: Sheriff
authors: Stephen M
authors: SM
authors: Arpadi
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Hawken
authors: Juma
authors: J
authors: Rashid
authors: Richard J
authors: RJ
authors: Deckelbaum
authors: Wafaa M
authors: WM
authors: El Sadr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000191:economics; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000191:economics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy*; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D057566:Self Report
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients