Immune System and Malnutrition: The Inseparable Duo in Managing HIV: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are among the greatest public health challenges around the globe. India ranks the third largest HIV epidemic in the world. People Living With HIV (PLWH) are highly susceptible to life threatening conditions as HIV destroys the body’s immune system. Despite anti-retroviral treatments, tackling HIV and AIDS has been an uphill task for decades with all the countries contributing their best to decrease the incidence and mortality rate. But this has been difficult as there are problems in plenty across the globe. Loss of life, economic burden, psychological effects, stigma, discrimination are the perennial problems of HIV and AIDS. Awareness about HIV/AIDS and factors influencing the disease progression is the key to break this cycle. One of the important factors influencing the disease outcome is immune status of an individual. The immune system is highly influenced by nutrition which is an integral part in managing HIV. Nutrition has always contributed to the robust functioning of the immune system of an individual. PLWH almost always have malnutrition which, if not corrected, influences the outcome of HIV infection drastically. With people across the globe showing malnutrition, either under or excess, the immune system functioning is impaired, particularly so in PLWH. Unfortunately, nutrition has been ignored or sidelined in managing HIV/AIDs. This review gives an overview of the interrelation of nutrition and immune system and how these influence the outcomes in PLWH.

Keywords

• acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• human immunodeficiency virus
• immunology
• nutritional status