The global burden of HIV is approximately 33 million, with 67% of those affected living in impoverished sub-Saharan Africa, where malnutrition is rampant because the daily household income is less than 1 US dollar per day. Nevertheless, food security in HIV patients is a problem for developing and developed countries. Immunodeficiency and malnutrition lead to a decrease in body weight and “waste syndrome,” which is defined as the loss of body weight by 10% or more. Despite the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART), weight loss remains one of the leading AIDS-defining clinical conditions [1-3]. Studies have shown a high percentage of weight loss (11 out of every 100 patients per year) among outpatients receiving ART [4]. A cohort study revealed 33.6% cases of weight loss in patients with HIV infection, even though 45% of those observed had a CD4 count of more than 350 cells / mm3 [5]. The initial report revealed that HIV individuals with weight loss had an initial viral load of less than 400 cells / mm³ [6, 7]. These data suggest that weight loss is not solely related to viral load, and the scale of weight loss in PLWH remains significant despite ART intervention. Morbidity and mortality associated with eating disorders and the need for a multidisciplinary approach are well reported in the literature [8]. Studies revealed that the death of HIV- patients occurred when their weight fell below 66% of the actual body weight [9-17]. The risk of opportunistic infections increases in patients who have significant weight loss compared to patients without weight loss [11]. Poor nutritional status can reduce the efficacy of antiretroviral treatment regimens, as some drugs may not be properly absorbed or can cause significant side effects if not taken with adequate food. In addition to the development of HIV-related diseases, the nutritional status is adversely affected by ART. Admission of some antiretroviral drugs leads to metabolic disorders. With long-term treatment, loss of fat from the face and limbs or accumulation of fat in the abdominal cavity known as lipodystrophy occurs [12, 16]. ART may also be accompanied by a disorder of lipid metabolism due to a decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and an increase in the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides in the blood, which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke and diabetes [13]. Reviews of malnutrition in PLWH indicate that the causes are multifactorial and may be secondary to decreased dietary intake, malabsorption, metabolic disorders or endocrine dysfunction [14]. Finding the causes determines the appropriate tactics of intervention and management.

This study was performed at the Federal Centre for Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS Moscow, Russia. Forty-five asymptomatic outpatients diagnosed with HIV, the majority (85%) of which are on antiretroviral therapy and thirty-two normal healthy volunteers (control group) aged between 24 and 40, were studied between 2014 and 2016. Within the HIV group, 32 (71%) were male and 13 (29%) female. Overall their median age, CD4 count and viral load were 30 years (IQR: 28-40), 407 (IQR: 357-490) cells/mm3 and 500 (IQR: 0-1000) copies/ml, respectively. None of the participants in the HIV group had any active infection. 61% of the HIV participants received a combination of nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) while 39 received a combination of NRTIs plus a protease inhibitor (PI). None of the HIV study participants received NRTIs such as d4T and AZT or PIs such as saquinavir, indinavir, and ritonavir, which account for most metabolic abnormalities associated with the lipodystrophy syndrome, therefore, could alter the outcomes. Only 7 HIV participants (15%) were ART naïve. Demographic characteristics like age, gender, family and financial status, and occupational status as well as education level, lifestyle factors (increase physical activity, smoking) were obtained and there were no differences between groups. None of the study participants were reported to be food insecure. We implemented a comprehensive method which was developed at the Research Institute of Nutrition Moscow aimed at combating nutritional disorders such as cachexia and obesity. This method involves the following:

In our study, the HIV-positive group had lower fat-free mass, although the weight and BMI, as well as lean mass and percent body met the normal range as their HIV-negative counterparts. Studies have identified that fat loss in HIV patients is associated with ARV-treatment, where lipodystrophy is characterised by abdominal fat accumulation and subcutaneous fat loss, predominantly at the face, limbs and buttocks [16, 20, 21]. These changes were not identified clinically in the HIV study group, especially among those receiving ARV-treatment. It is also important to point out that ARV drugs responsible for fat loss and redistribution were not prescribed to the HIV study participants on ARV. There was no change in the waist to hip ratio of the HIV group in comparison to the control group and normal values, which also excludes the possibility of fat redistribution usually found in HIV patients. There were no reported differences in dietary intake across study groups, with the exception of carbohydrate intake, which was lower in the HIV positive group than in the HIV negative group. Given the equal socioeconomic status, we did not relate this factor to the low carb intake. Carbohydrates contributed to approximately 35% of the total energy intake in the HIV group, which undermines the RDA recommendation of 60% [22]. Carbohydrates are a vital source of energy and they prevent protein and fats from being used as an energy source [14]. Consequently, we observed depletion of fat free mass, increased protein and fat oxidation and a marked increase in urea nitrogen concentration in urine in the HIV group reflecting protein catabolism due to lack of carbohydrate intake. The resting energy expenditure rate was higher in HIV group than in control subjects as previously documented by other studies [23, 24], so was the protein and fat oxidation rate. The WHO recommend an energy increase by 10% in adults with asymptomatic HIV to maintain body weight due to an increase in the resting energy expenditure observed in studies [25]. Dietitians at the Institute of Nutrition in Moscow (where part of the research was held) did recommend that the HIV participants adjust their dietary intake by increasing their carbs diet at RDA recommended levels to overturn the catabolic status observed. Further depletion of proteins which is a vital element for immune cells and absorption, uptake or efflux of many medications including drugs could affect the immune status of HIV patients and ARV drug efficacy. It is important to note that during our observation, the CD4 counts remained at normal limits and the viral load was undetectable. This analysis is subjected to several limitations. Firstly, the sample size was relatively small, which may have impacted the statistical power to discriminate the effects of methods implemented between the analysed groups. Secondly, because a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is composed of a pre-specified food list, it may not have reflected the eating patterns of the participants, as some may have migrated to urban cities. Subsequent studies of this kind would help evaluate the nutritional and metabolic status after dietary adjustment and investigation involving two groups which comprise ARV-naïve and ARV-receiving treatment with a considerable sample size. The nutrition and metabolic status might undergo some changes given to these factors

Fig. (1). Daily intake of carbohydrates in the study groups.

The study demonstrated a catabolic status (negative nitrogen balance and loss of fat mass as a result of increased protein oxidation and fat oxidation rate, respectively) in the HIV study group. This was due to a reduced intake of carbohydrates, which is the main source of energy. These changes suggest an adjustment in the nutrient RDA to compensate for such status. The study also confirms an increase in the resting energy expenditure rate from previous studies. Given the results from the study, starting assessment, counselling, and education regarding nutrition shortly after HIV diagnosis is imperative. Further investigation should be extended to HIV patients with active opportunistic diseases during metabolic stress as well as in paediatric HIV infection.