Leaf concentrate compared with skimmed milk as nutritional supplementation for HIV-infected children: a randomized controlled trial in Burundi

Abstract

Objective: The effectiveness of leaf concentrate powder (LCP) as a nutritional supplement was established in trials conducted among adolescent girls and pregnant women in India. Here we evaluate LCP, compared with skimmed milk powder (SMP), as a supplement for antiretroviral-naïve children living with HIV in a sub-Saharan African country. Design: Randomized controlled, two-arm, 6-month trial comparing effects of isoproteic (5 g) LCP (10 g daily) and SMP (15 g daily) on HIV-1 viral load, CD4+ cell count/percentage, weight/height-for-age, general blood parameters, diarrhoea, respiratory and HIV-related opportunistic infections. . Children in the LCP group reported higher levels of appetite and overall health at 6 months. There were no differences in clinical events or any other outcome measures. LCP was less palatable than SMP to the children in this population, but there were few negative perceptions of appearance, texture and taste.Conclusions: LCP appears to be equivalent to SMP as a nutritional supplement in this population, despite slightly lower palatability. In relation to viral load and CD4 + count, equivalence may indicate no effect in either group. Effectiveness relative to no supplementation remains to be determined.

The Symbolic Meaning of HIV: Understanding Lecturers’ Ambivalence over Teaching HIV to Dietetic Students

“…Few studies discussed HIV from nutrition perspective mostly focused on the effect of nutrition intervention such as supplement on metabolism and nutrition status or explored common nutrition problems among PLHIV. 9,46 -48 Although these studies help promoting the role of dietitian in HIV case management, they even led to the discussion of “medicalized” nutrition. Under these circumstances, the data analysis resulted in one analytical theme that HIV is a medical area.I mainly teach food service management.…”