Nutritional support to reduce mortality in patients with HIV?

Despite increased access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in patients with HIV, mortality is very high during the early months of treatment.1 Immunosuppression and undernutrition, presenting as either low body mass index (BMI) or micronutrient deficiency, are among the key risk factors for increased mortality.2 Several clinical trials have investigated the role of micronutrient and macronutrient supplementation on HIV-related treatment outcomes including mortality, but many have shown no effects or only modest beneficial effects.