EFFECTS OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION AND DETOXIFICATION TIME ON ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS AND DIETARY-INTAKE OF MALE DRUG-ADDICTS

Anthropometric measurements and dietary intakes of male drug addicts ( n = 62), infected (n = 23) or not infected (n = 39) with human immunod eficiency virus (HIV), who underwent two phases of detoxification (P1: 15 d to 1 mo and P2: 5-6 mo) were assessed. Body weight, weight gain during detoxification, height, body mass index, and ideal body weight were measured. A prospective food-record questionnaire was compiled an d energy and nutrient contents of ingested food were determined. Food intakes were compared with dietary recommendations for the Spanish pop ulation. At the time of the study, all patients had substantial weight gains, mostly in P1. Nutrient consumption was lower in P2 (energy, pr otein, and lipids) and in groups not infected with HIV. In P2, lipid i ntake was higher in the HIV-positive than in the HIV-negative group (P < 0.05, Student's t test). Moreover, an interactive effect of HIV by phase was shown for lipid intake (P = 0.04, two-way analysis of varian ce). Magnesium, folate, and vitamin E intakes were lower than recommen ded in nearly all patients. Energy, zinc, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6 intakes were lower than recommended or were borderline. HIV infection did not have a negative effect on anthropometric measurements or on nu trient intakes. The anthropometric assessment may suggest an adequate recovery of the indexes measured in all patients, which principally to ok place during P1. Measurement of nutrient intakes showed certain imb alances and deficits that should be corrected.