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Mother, Infant and Young Child Nutrition and Malnutrition |
Nutrition in the Context of HIV/AIDS |
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Nutrition for People Living with HIV/AIDS
The Cycle of Malnutrition and HIV/AIDS
Malnutrition is one of the major complications of HIV/AIDS infection and a significant factor in advancing the disease.
HIV infection can compromise nutrition through malabsorption and altered metabolism resulting in:
- Weight loss
- Loss of muscles and fat tissue
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Reduced immune function and competence
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- Increased susceptibility to secondary infections
- Increased nutritional needs because of reduced food intake
People living with HIV and AIDS may not get enough food because of:
- Drugs reducing their appetite
- Infections causing sore-mouth, nausea and vomiting
- Illnesses causing abdominal pain and damage of the the gut
- Persistent diarrhoea
- Reduced absorption of nutrients especially of fats and fat soluble vitamins
- Increased tiredness, loneliness and depression leading to loss of appetite and anorexia
- Reduced energy to work or produce food
- Changes in their metabolism - the way the body transports, uses, stores and gets rid of nutrients
Malnutrition is significantly high among HIV-infected people.
 Relationship Between HIV and Malnutrition. Source – HIV/AIDS: A Guide for Nutrition Care and Support, 2001
02 January, 2009
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