Potential effects of nutrient supplement on the anthropometric profiles of HIV-positive patients: complementary medicine could have a role in the management of HIV/AIDS

Abstract

This is a purposive open-ended study that consisted of a baseline, monthly 
and final measurements (at the end of nutrient supplementation) that lasted for 
six months. Anthropometric measurements (BMI, percentage fat, waist-to-hip 
ratio and lean body mass) were done at baseline, monthly and at the end of 
study (final measurement) using known standard methods. The Tlymphocytes subsets were determined using flow cytometer. Participants 
fulfilled certain criteria for inclusion in the study. At baseline, of the 35 
patients recruited into the study, 32 (94.1%) showed a fat percentage below 
normal range. Twenty-four of the patients (68.6%) had body mass index 
(BMI) within normal range, while a greater percentage of the patients had a 
normal waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Of the 28 patients that completed the 
study, 26 (96.3%) reported a fat percentage of below 18.5%. There was no 
significant difference (P>0.05) between the fat percentage at baseline and end 
of the study in the whole group. The results showed that 19 (67.9%) of the 28 
patients had a BMI within the normal range after nutrient intervention. There 
was a significant positive correlation between the BMI and fat percentage. At 
the end of the study, the CD4+
T-cell count showed no positive correlation 
with any of the anthropometric indices. The supplement showed no significant 
effect on the anthropometrics. Further study with large sample size is 
recommended to confirm supplement effect on the anthropometric profiles. 
The short duration of the study probably limited the positive trend of the 
supplement on the anthropometric profiles.