Nutrition, the gastrointestinal tract and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Facts and perspectives

P. Singer, M. M. Rothkopf, V. Kvetan, J. Gaare, L. Mello, J. Askanazi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Diarrhoea and malnutrition are common findings in patients with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). In this disease, enteropathy leads to fat and D-xylose malabsorption and chronic non-specific inflammation of the small bowel. Moreover, gastrointestinal infection can induce severe diarrhoea. Depletion in real body cell mass, body fat content, and weight loss have been observed. Nutritional therapy is mandatory when weight loss is 10% or greater. Enteral feeding is not easily achieved. Parenteral feeding including fat as a nonprotein calorie source improves general condition. The use of intravenous fat emulsions has been hypothesized to have several beneficial effects. Fluidisation of human immunodeficiency virus membranes by lipid emulsions through cholesterol extraction could decrease the infectivity of the virus. Long term intravenous nutrition may be more than a treatment for malabsorption and depletion; it may possibly have direct pharmacological effects.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)281-287
Number of pages7
JournalClinical Nutrition
Volume8
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1989

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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