Importance of Nutrition for People with AIDS

SEEM, when someone is diagnosed with HIV / AIDS, the most important is the provision of drugs, such as antiretrovirals. Though there are other things that need to be considered namely nutrition.

Dr. Sari Tirta Prawita MSc, Chairman of the Foundation for Conscious Gema Nutrition Clinical Nutrition and a professor of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta warned that the benefits of providing nutrition to patients with HIV / AIDS is often forgotten. According to him, HIV in the human body causing the release of inflammatory mediators that cause the disruption of metabolism of macro nutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fat). This will result in metabolic disorders such as hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypoalbuminemia.

Inflammatory mediators (cytokines) that is released can also cause proteolysis or body protein breakdown. This is what causes muscle wasting. Metabolic disorders and muscle wasting cause nutrient proficiency level can not be used as an energy so that nutritional status decreases.

Furthermore, Dr. deliver poor appetite and the body plus the increasing need for nutrients will cause nutrient loss is not balanced. In fact, good nutrition proven to affect the immune system.

Good nutrition, he said, given lovingly and cooked in a way that appetizing. This will help improve nutritional intake so that the patient will undergo a final period of his life as well.

Nutrition in HIV / AIDS at all stages be given absolute because it will give greater influence which can significantly slow the progression of the disease by improving the immune system. Adequate nutrition can improve nutritional status.