Nutritional management should be a regular part of HIV/AIDS care.

Nutritional management should be a regular part of HIV/AIDS care. Even if an HIV positive person has no obvious nutritional problems such as wasting, a healthy diet can still help stave off illness and improve quality of life. But, as Tang and colleagues noted in their review, dealing with nutritional issues "may not be part of the traditional care or thought process of the HIV care provider." A registered dietitian (RD) who has experience working with people with HIV/AIDS can be an invaluable resource.

The American Dietetic Association recommends a baseline nutritional and body composition assessment soon after HIV diagnosis. Follow-up assessments should be conducted at least once annually for asymptomatic individuals with well-controlled HIV disease, and every few months for patients with AIDS or known nutritional problems. Tasmin Knox, MD, from Tufts recommends anthropometric measurements of body composition (see "Weights and Measurements" above for an explanation of various methods); laboratory tests of protein and micronutrient levels in the blood; tests of metabolic parameters such as blood lipids, blood glucose, and liver enzymes; and clinical assessment of eating patterns, supplement use, functional status, physical symptoms, and psychological or socioeconomic issues that may impede adequate nutrient intake. Some experts recommend that people keep a daily diary of everything they eat, along with any dietary problems they encounter.