Since many people with HIV/AIDS use dietary

Once such an assessment is complete, promptly address any underlying problems -- such as infections, hormone imbalances, or metabolic disorders -- that may be interfering with proper nutrition. The next step is to develop an appropriate, individualized nutrition plan. Seniors, growing children, pregnant or breast-feeding women, and people with active OIs are among the many groups that have special nutritional needs. While supplements can offer important benefits, they do not replace a well-balanced diet. When it comes to good nutrition, there is no "quick fix." It's better to develop long-term healthy eating habits, such as cutting back on saturated fat and consuming more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. But set realistic goals: it's fine to splurge occasionally if one normally adheres to a healthy diet. Fortunately, small changes in eating habits can often make a big difference in terms of health.

Since many people with HIV/AIDS use dietary supplements in addition to HAART, it's crucial to learn more about how nutritional supplementation impacts HIV disease and vice versa. According to Tang and colleagues, areas ripe for further research include the role of micronutrient supplementation in people with well-controlled HIV disease, whether micronutrients can enhance CD4 cell responses, the role of antioxidants in countering increased oxidative stress due to HIV infection or its treatment, whether micronutrient supplementation can help reduce morbidity associated with coinfections such as hepatitis B or C, the role supplements might play in addressing metabolic manifestation such as lipodystrophy and bone loss, and the appropriate doses of supplements for HIV positive people at various stages of disease.

"Attempts to improve dietary quality and micronutrient status may play an overall role in maximizing health for the HIV-infected individual, particularly in undernourished populations," Tang and colleagues concluded, "and may also play a role in the more subtle management of HIV infection in the future."