Assessing the impact of a food supplement on the nutritional status and body composition of HIV-infected Zambian women on ARVs.

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial looks at the intervention named in the title.

Techniques for the assessment of nutritional status utilising objective measures of body composition are not commonly available in Zambia.

The aim of this study is therefore to assess the impact of a food supplement on nutritional status using a comprehensive anthropometric protocol including measures of skinfold thickness and circumferences, plus the criterion deuterium dilution technique to assess total body water (TBW) and derive fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM).

Why It Was Studied

Poor nutritional status due to both protein-energy and micronutrient malnutrition has worsened this situation.

In an attempt to address this combined problem, the government has instigated a number of strategies, including the provision of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment coupled with the promotion of good nutrition.

Who Took Part

The age groups tagged for this paper are young adults and adults, women only.

This community-based controlled and longitudinal study aims to recruit 200 HIV-infected females commencing ARV treatment at two clinics in Lusaka, Zambia.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got the intervention named in the title and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Data will be collected at four time points: baseline, 4-month, 8-month and 12-month follow-up visits.

Outcome measures to be assessed include body height and weight, body mass index (BMI), body composition, CD4, viral load and micronutrient status.

What Was Measured

High-energy protein supplement (HEPS) is particularly promoted; however, the impact of this food supplement on the nutritional status of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) beyond weight gain has not been assessed.

The subject headings attached to it are Body Composition, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Dietary Proteins, Eating, HIV Seropositivity, Nutrition Assessment and Nutritional Status.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized study.

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 1 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2011 (BMC public health), a journal based in England.

More context: all human trials.