The effect of nutritional supplementation on quality of life in people living with HIV: a randomised controlled trial.
To determine the effects of lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) on the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV) during the first 3 months of antiretroviral treatment (ART) and to investigate the effects of timing of supplementation by comparing with supplementation during the subsequent 3 months.



A randomised controlled trial was conducted in three ART clinics within public health facilities in Jimma, Ethiopia. Participants were PLHIV eligible to start ART with body mass index >17 kg/m(2) and given daily supplements of 200 g of LNS containing whey or soya either during the first 3 months or the subsequent months of ART. The outcome was measured in terms of total quality-of-life scores on the adapted version of the WHOQOL-HIV-BREF assessed at baseline, three and six months.



Of the 282 participants, 186 (66.0%) were women. The mean age (SD) was 32.8 (±9.0) years, and the mean (SD) total quality-of-life score was 82.0 (±14.8) at baseline assessment. At 3 months, participants who received LNS showed better quality of life than those who only received ART without LNS (β = 6.2, 95% CI: 2.9: 9.6). At 6 months, there was no difference in total quality-of-life score between the early and delayed supplementation groups (β = 3.0, 95% CI: -0.4: 6.4). However, the early supplementation group showed higher scores on the social and spirituality domains than the delayed group.



LNS given during the first three months of ART improves the quality of life of PLHIV.
Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Science, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.|Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Markos
M
Tesfaye
Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Pernille
P
Kaestel
Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mette Frahm
MF
Olsen
Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Science, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Tsinuel
T
Girma
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Health Science, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Daniel
D
Yilma
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences & Pathology, College of Health Science, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Alemseged
A
Abdissa
Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Christian
C
Ritz
Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kim F
KF
Michaelsen
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.|Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Charlotte
C
Hanlon
Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Henrik
H
Friis
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D013025:Glycine max; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000067796:Whey; D055815:Young Adult
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids
HIV; VIH; antiretroviral treatment; calidad de vida; emplazamiento con ingresos bajos; food insecurity; inseguridad alimentaria; insécurité alimentaire; lipid-based nutrient supplement; low-income setting; quality of life; qualité vie; suplementos nutricionales de base lipídica; supplément nutritif à base de lipides; traitement antirétroviral; tratamiento antirretroviral; zone à faibles revenus