Weight Gain and Increased Concentrations of Receptor Proteins for Tumor Necrosis Factor After Patients With Symptomatic HIV Infection Received Fortified Nutrition Support

Objective To determine whether certain nutrients and dietary factors act as modulators of the immune system and improve the nutritional status of immunocompromised patients. Design Controlled, double-blind, crossover phase trials of the effects of a fortified formula in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patients consumed a control formula for 4 months and a study formula for 4 months. Subjects Ten men with symptomatic HIV infection who were following stable medication regimens and had no malignancies, mycobacteriosis, or additional virus infection requiring systemic treatment. Intervention Formula fortified with α-linolenic acid (1.8 g/day), arginine (7.8 g/day), and RNA (0.75 g/day) and a standard formula. Main outcome measures Nutritional status determined by anthropometric, bioelectrical, biochemical, and dietary assessment; energy expenditure determined by indirect calorimetry; disease progression; CD4 lymphocyte counts; HIV p24 antigen plasma concentrations; tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor proteins; and compliance control parameters. Statistical analyses performed Student's t tests for paired and unpaired data. Results Fortified nutrition resulted in a weight gain (+2.9 kg/ 4 months vs −0.5 kg/4 months with the control formula, P