A Baseline Studies on the Nutritional Interplay between HIV Drugs and Kidney, Liver and Heart Indices in Patients Receiving HIV Treatment in North-East Nigeria

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) have shown impressive improvement and death rates have drastically reduced, even though complications still exist. This research carried out a baseline study to determine the nutritional interplay between HIV-drugs and kidney, liver, and heart indices among subjects undergoing HIV treatment and attending the Medical Out-Patient Department of a Federal Medical Center in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria, using a sample size of 50 individuals both male and female, who have been shown to be HIV positive and have been on ART for over 12 months. Anthropometric data was collected in triplicate, two from patients' file, and one was measured directly and the average was obtained. The electrolytes were determined by the colorimetric method while total protein and albumin in blood concentration were determined by spectrophotometric method, but globulin and A/G ratio were determined by calculation. TC was determined using Spectrophotometric method while HDL was determined after precipitation of LDL with phosphotungstate and magnesium were calculated from Friedwaldís formular, and TG was measured using the colorimetric enzymatic method. The results showed that the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure which were 119.9 mmHg ± 17.5, and 76.