We compared the nutritional status of individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection alone, individuals with HIV infection and tuberculosis (after completion of antituberculosis treatment), and HIV-negative individuals and found that malnutrition, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia were most pronounced among HIV-positive patients with tuberculosis. Weight loss was associated with loss of fat in female patients and with loss of body cell mass in male patients.

Macronutrient supplementation did not result in significantly increased weight gain compared with standard care (including nutritional counseling) among patients with moderately advanced HIV disease. The effect of supplementation on specific subsets of patients and on preserving immune function needs further research.

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