Abstract:
Many of the 28 million people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS) estimated to be living in sub-Saharan Africa also suffer from malnutrition. Reproductive-aged women, their
infants and young children are among the most vulnerable to malnutrition and progression of HIV to AIDS. As seen in
eastern and southern Africa, mortality is increased in the malnourished. The HIV Nutrition Project (HNP) researchers
will be evaluating the effect of protein quality and micronutrients found in meat on the health and nutritional well-being
of women living with HIV in rural Kenya and the health and development of their children. By means of a randomized
nutrition feeding intervention, the study will determine if meat in the diets of HIV-infected women and their children (1)
protects the immune system and prevents severe infection, (2) prevents the loss of lean body mass, enhancing the quality of
life among these drug naïve women and enabling women to carry out their activities of daily living, and (3) supports the
growth and development of their vulnerable children when compared to those given supplements with the same amount of
energy, but with either soya or wheat protein. The intervention food with beef protein provides significantly more vitamin
B12, lysine and bio-available iron and zinc when compared to the soya and wheat supplements. Deficiencies of these
nutrients may hasten HIV disease progression
