Dietary supplement use and nutrient intake in HIV-infected persons

Dietary supplement use was assessed in 368 {HIV-infected} patients enrolled in the Nutrition for Healthy Living cohort. The objective was to describe the dietary, demographic, and health characteristics of the HIV-infected persons who use different types of dietary supplements. Each patient was categorized in 1 of 4 dietary supplement groups. Extremes in intake of micronutrients were common. Men and women who consumed no supplements reported inadequate intakes of a number of micronutrients. Men using nonvitamin/nonmineral {(NVNM)} supplements had diets higher in fiber, protein, and 13 of 14 vitamins and minerals. Almost 90% of male {NVNM} supplement users ingested 1 or more vitamins or minerals in amounts above the tolerable upper limit. Male {NVNM} supplement users were more likely to be white, well educated, and receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy and more likely to have higher annual incomes, higher {CD4} counts, and lower {HIV} {RNA} levels. {HIV-infected} women who were using {NVNM} supplements exhibited similar trends. Micronutrient inadequacy and excess are relatively common in persons living with {HIV} infection. Practitioners need to judiciously address optimal nutrient intake from both diet and dietary supplements in this population.