title: Role of intestinal dysfunction in the nutritional compromise seen in human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults in rural India.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression is often marked by significant weight loss with or without chronic diarrhoea. We studied the extent of intestinal dysfunction using a D-xylose absorption test and association with nutritional compromise as measured by body mass index (BMI) and serum antioxidants levels in HIV-infected individuals through a cross-sectional survey of 45 ART naïve, HIV-positive and 45, age-socioeconomic status matched negative controls in a rural population in India. More than 40% of HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants had intestinal dysfunction (42.2% vs. 44.4%). However an increasing gradient of low D-xylose absorption was noted with decreasing CD4 counts (32%, 50% and 58.3% among those with >350, 200-350 and <200 cells/mm3, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between intestinal dysfunction and low BMI (P = 0.03) independent of HIV infection and calorie intake per day (P = 0.02). Weight loss in HIV-infected individuals should be investigated for intestinal dysfunction especially in low resource settings.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, RUHSA Department, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India rita.isaac@cmcvellore.ac.in.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isaac
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, RUHSA Department, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Biswajit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Geethanajali
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Gagandeep
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wanke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000502:physiology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007422:Intestines / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012424:Rural Population; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asia; Disease prevention; diagnosis; epidemiology