Relationship between dietary intake and use of protease inhibitors with anthropometric and biochemical parameters of lipodystrophy in people living with hiv.

The lipodystrophy syndrome is characterized by redistribution of body fat and disorders of glicidic and lipid metabolism. Although its etiology is related to infection and drug therapy, there is little evidence regarding the nutritional disturbances on this association. This study aimed to assess the relationship between dietary intake and use of protease inhibitors (PIs) with anthropometric and biochemical parameters in HIV positive patients. The study included 50 patients. A questionnaire about socioeconomic status, lifestyle and infection history was taken. In addition, it was conducted the evaluation of dietary intake (frequency questionnaire), anthropometric parameters (body mass index, waist circumference, triceps skinfold, corrected arm muscle area) and biochemistry tests (glycemia and lipid profile). Only 37% of the sample was classified as "good food consumption", 54% were overweight or obese and 66% presented high waist circumference. The group with good food consumption had higher HDL-C (p=0.04) levels than the group with poor food consumption. Patients taking PIs presented VLDL-C (p=0.023) and triglycerides (p=0.024) levels significantly higher. These results indicated the necessity for continuous monitoring of HIV-positive patients and non-pharmacological interventions such as nutrition education and practice of physical exercises.