Nutritional interventions for reducing morbidity and mortality in people with HIV.

Study answer

What this study found

Overall, oral macronutrient supplementation did not show consistent clinical benefit for HIV-related outcomes. When macronutrient supplements fortified with micronutrients were added to nutrition counselling, energy and protein intakes increased compared with counselling alone, but there was no consistent evidence of improvement in mortality, morbidity, body weight, or immunologic outcomes. The evidence base was limited by small, heterogeneous trials with widely varying supplement types, formulations, durations, and participant characteristics.

Study & population

Systematic review of randomized trials in adults and children living with HIV/AIDS across diverse settings, including participants on and not on antiretroviral therapy.

Intervention

This review evaluated orally administered macronutrient supplementation for people living with HIV, including protein and/or energy supplements, often fortified with micronutrients and usually given alongside nutrition counselling.

Key limitation

The evidence came largely from small randomized trials with substantial heterogeneity in supplement type, dose, duration, and participant populations, which limited pooling and reduced certainty.

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Original abstract