Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression is often marked by significant weight loss with or without chronic diarrhoea. We studied the extent of intestinal dysfunction using a D-xylose absorption test and association with nutritional compromise as measured by body mass index (BMI) and serum antioxidants levels in HIV-infected individuals through a cross-sectional survey of 45 ART naïve, HIV-positive and 45, age-socioeconomic status matched negative controls in a rural population in India. More than 40% of HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants had intestinal dysfunction (42.2% vs. 44.4%). However an increasing gradient of low D-xylose absorption was noted with decreasing CD4 counts (32%, 50% and 58.3% among those with >350, 200-350 and <200 cells/mm3, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between intestinal dysfunction and low BMI (P = 0.03) independent of HIV infection and calorie intake per day (P = 0.02). Weight loss in HIV-infected individuals should be investigated for intestinal dysfunction especially in low resource settings.
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