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Technical Note No. 7
Food and Nutrition Implications of Antiretroviral Therapy in Resource Limited Settings
As access to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy increases in developing countries, a greater number of HIV-infected individuals living in resource limited settings are able to use the drugs to extend the length and improve the quality of their lives. Interactions between ARVs and food and nutrition can significantly influence the success of therapy by affecting drug efficacy, adherence to drug regimens, and nutritional status. This Technical Note examines the relationship between nutrition and ARV efficacy, especially in resource limited settings. The document, which was supported by USAID’s Regional Economic Development Services Office for East and Southern Africa (REDSO/ESA), describes the effects of specific food-drug combinations in HIV/AIDS treatment and presents nutrition guidelines for ARV program design and management.
Management of interactions between drugs and food and nutrition is a critical factor in the extent to which people living with HIV/AIDS in resource limited settings benefit from ARV therapy. This document, the latest in FANTA's Technical Note series, provides information on food and medicine combinations that may inhibit ARV therapy effectiveness, encumber nutrient delivery, or cause dangerous side effects. Certain foods affect ARV absorption, metabolism, distribution, or excretion. Similarly, certain antiretrovirals impede nutrient absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion. Drug side effects such as nausea, taste changes, and loss of appetite may reduce food consumption, while diarrhea and vomiting may increase nutrient losses. People living with HIV/AIDS may be unable to follow optimal food and nutrition recommendations for ARV therapy due to lack of access to required foods. These factors also contribute to drug regimen non-adherence, a problem in some ARV programs that can lead to substantial decline in health, increased frequency of opportunistic infections, and faster progression of HIV/AIDS. While knowledge continues to emerge on this subject, programs and service providers can support people living with AIDS and caregivers to manage ARV-food interactions and improve therapy outcomes.
