The effects of increased energy and protein intakes and highly active antiretroviral therapy on growth and body composition of HIV+ Romanian children.

Abstract

Diet quality, growth and body composition were assessed over one year in 15 HIV+, prepubescent Romanian children. Those with highly active antiretroviral therapy (+HAART; n=5) vs medication naïve (-HAART; n=10) at Time 0 revealed a greater energy (E) intake in +HAART (p=0.01); both groups exceeded FAO recommended intakes for E and protein (PRO). No difference in age-adjusted weight (WT), height (HT), body mass index (BMI), arm fat (MAFA) or arm muscle was evident at baseline. Changes in z-scores of anthropometrics from 0 to 6 months, were greater in +HAART for WT (p=0.02), HT(p= 0.03), BMI (p=0.06), and MAFA (p <0.001); changes were not different from 6 to 12 months. We conclude that intakes exceeding recommendations for E and PRO are adequate to maintain growth in HIV-infected Romanian children; and HAART is associated with a greater caloric intake although this difference is not maintained over time.