Nutrition and HIV infection
Karsegard, V.L.; Genton, L.; Raguso, C.; Pichard, C.
Revue Medicale de la Suisse Romande 121(9): 635-640
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-3655 PMID: 11723703 Document Number: 540285
The HIV infection leads to many nutritional problems. For a long time, the Wasting Syndrome was one of the most frequent inaugural features of AIDS and still concerns many patients. The weight loss worsens the prognosis of the disease. The reduced dietary intakes, the increased digestive losses and energetic expenditure result in severe malnutrition. Therefore, the nutritional support and its association with orexigenes, anabolic agents and physical activity has to be carefully selected. The adverse events of new antiretroviral drugs influence the nutritional state and the patient's compliance towards their treatments. For lipodystrophy, whose etiology is still unknown, no treatment has yet been found. Metabolic disorders (dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, diabetes, etc.) in this presently chronic disease require particular attention since they increase cardiovascular risks. In general they are sensitive to a dietary approach.