Dietary Intake in a Cohort of HIV Patients at the Time of Diagnosis: Comparison with a Matched Control Cohort and with Italian National Reference Values

The advent of combination antiretroviral therapy has improved life-expectancy in HIV patients, increasing the occurrence of other chronic diseases, mostly preventable with health promoting behaviours. The aim of this study was to assess the dietary intake in a cohort of HIV patients (HC) at the time of diagnosis and to compare it with that of a cohort of healthy subjects (CC) and with the Italian guidelines. Dietary intake from both cohorts was collected using a 7-day food record and analysed by Microdiet©. Thirty-three HIV patients were enrolled (82% males, median age 41 years old). The contribution of carbohydrates to energy in HC was higher than in CC: 48.5 ± 5.2% vs 42.7 ± 6.6%, p = 0.0002. The proportions of total fats (34.2 ± 5.3% vs 36.6 ± 3.6%, p = 0.0322), mono-unsaturated fat acids, (14.0 ± 3.4% vs 17.3 ± 2.5%, p < 0.0001) and alcohol (1.5 ± 2.7% vs 5.9 ± 4.0%, p < 0.0001) were lower in HC than in CC. Both cohorts consumed more simple sugars, total fat, and saturated fat and less fibre than the recommendations. HC reported lower consumption of some vitamins and minerals and of omega fats than CC. HIV-infected patients need dietary counselling since the time of diagnosis and should be enrolled in nutritional surveillance plans in order to prevent emerging comorbidities.