INDIRECT CALORIMETRY, BODY-COMPOSITION AND SMALL BOWEL-FUNCTION IN ASYMPTOMATIC HIV-SEROPOSITIVE WOMEN

Extrapolation of data from energy balance studies in HIV-seropositive men to HIV-seropositive women may be inaccurate due to gender differen ces in body composition, hormones and metabolism. If women have a diff erent metabolic response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), nu tritional advice may differ from HIV-seropositive men. Ten asymptomati c HIV-seropositive women were matched with 10 heterosexual female cont rols from low-risk groups. Subjects and controls had assessment of ene rgy and protein intake, resting energy expenditure (REE) and substrate oxidation, small bowel absorption and permeability and body compositi on. There were no significant differences in REE, substrate oxidation and body composition. Energy and protein intake and small bowel permea bility were increased and sugar absorption decreased in HIV-seropositi ve women (all P<0.05). Unlike asymptomatic HIV-seropositive men, asymp tomatic HIV-seropositive women do not have significant alterations in metabolism or body composition. Therefore, nutritional advice may need to vary according to the gender of the asymptomatic HIV-seropositive subject.