Papathakis PC, Rollins NC, Van Loan M, Chantry CJ, Bennish ML, Brown KH; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. ThPeC7290.

Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, Mtubatuba, South Africa

Background: The nutritional and immunologic consequences of breastfeeding by HIV-infected women are unknown. These women are particularly vulnerable to nutrient deficiencies from potential dietary inadequacies and likely increased nutrient requirements associated with HIV. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of breastfeeding on the body composition of HIV-infected breastfeeding mothers. Methods: We measured the height (HT), weight (WT), and body mass index (BMI) of 65 HIV-infected and 41 uninfected breastfeeding mothers in rural South Africa at 8 and 24 weeks post partum, and determined their fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM) and percent body fat (%BF) using bioimpedance spectrometry. Results: At 8 weeks post partum, HIV-infected and uninfected mothers were not significantly different from one another in HT (159.2 vs 159.7 cm, p=0.6), WT (62.7 vs 65 kg, p=0.3), BMI (24.7 vs 25.5 kg/m[2], p=0.4), FFM (41.3 vs 43.4 kg, p=0.2), FM (21.4 vs 21.6 kg, p=0.9) or %BF (33.7 vs 32.5%, p=0.5) respectively. Median CD4 in infected mothers was 673 cells/uL, with median HIV vial load of 7000 copies/mL. Changes between 8 weeks and 24 weeks post partum did not differ significantly between HIV-infected and uninfected mothers in FFM (-0.62 vs +0.19 kg, p=0.8), FM (-1.18 vs +0.04 kg, p=0.3) and %BF (-1.12 vs +0.03%, p=0.7) respectively. In both groups, change in FFM and FM was related to initial FFM and FM. HIV-infected mothers, however, lost significantly more WT (-1.33 vs +0.24 kg in uninfected, p<0.02), and had a resultant decrease in BMI (-0.52 vs +0.08 kg/m[2] in uninfected, p<0.02). Conclusion HIV-infected breastfeeding mothers lost weight between 8 and 24 weeks post partum, while uninfected mothers gained weight. The loss was primarily FM. In spite of this weight loss, HIV-infected mothers remain comparable in FFM and FM with HIV-uninfected mothers breastfeeding mothers in other studies.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• African Continental Ancestry Group
• Body Composition
• Body Height
• Body Mass Index
• Body Weight
• Breast Feeding
• Disease Progression
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Mothers
• South Africa
• Weight Loss

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0036854

UI: 102281070

From Meeting Abstracts