Nutritional status of HIV-1 seropositive patients in the Free State Province of South Africa : Anthropometric and dietary profile

To evaluate the nutritional intake and status of HIV-1 seropositive patients, as well as the relationship between malnutrition and disease stage. A cross-sectional study. The Immunology Clinic at the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Eighty-one HIV/AIDS patients in different stages of disease were recruited consecutively from January to May 1995. Eleven of these patients were followed in 1997. Anthropometric data including current weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-upper-arm circumference, body mass index and bone-free arm muscle area were collected. Nutrient intake was estimated using a diet history in combination with a standardised food frequency questionnaire. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their CD4+ T cell counts. The men were leaner (BMI = 18.9) than the women (BMI = 22.7) and patients with a CD4+ T cell count < 200 (stage III) tended to have the lowest median values for all anthropometric measurements. More than half the patients had a low intake (< 67% of the recommended dietary allowances) of vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin D, vitamin A, calcium, iron and zinc. The results confirms that HIV/AIDS patients from this population are malnourished. There was, however, no association between disease stage and nutritional status. Nutritional supplementation of HIV/AIDS patients should be considered, as this might lead to improved immune function in these patients.