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Nutrition in acute and chronic diseases

Inflammatory markers as correlates of body composition and grip strength among adults with and without HIV: A cross-sectional study in Ethiopia

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 76, pages 973–978 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Changes in body composition and muscle strength are common among individuals with HIV. We investigated the associations of inflammation with body composition and grip strength in adults with and without HIV.

Methods

Cross-sectional study among Ethiopian treatment-naïve individuals with and without HIV. Fat mass and fat-free mass adjusted for height (kg/m2) were used as indicators of body composition.

Results

288/100 individuals with/without HIV were included between July 2010 and August 2012. Females with HIV had lower fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) than females without HIV, whereas no difference was seen between males with and without HIV. Males and females with HIV had lower grip strength than their counterparts without HIV. Serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (s-AGP) was negatively correlated with FMI (−0.71 kg/m2, 95% CI: −1.2; −0.3) among individuals with HIV, and those with HIV and serum C-reactive protein (s-CRP) ≥ 10 mg/l had 0.78 kg/m2 (95% CI −1.4; −0.2) lower FMI than those with s-CRP < 10 mg/l. In contrast, s-AGP was positively correlated with FMI (2.09 kg/m2, 95% CI 0.6; 3.6) in individuals without HIV. S-CRP and AGP were negatively associated with grip strength in individuals with HIV, while no correlation was observed among those without HIV.

Conclusion

Inflammation was positively associated with FMI in individuals without HIV while it was negatively associated with FMI in those with HIV, indicating that inflammation may be one of the drivers of depleting energy reserves among treatment-naïve individuals with HIV. Inflammation was associated with decreased muscle quantity and functional capacity among individuals with HIV, but not in those without HIV.

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Fig. 1: Inflammation and fat mass.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Maria H. Hegelund & Dirk L. Christensen

  2. Department of Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases, Nordsjællands Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark

    Maria H. Hegelund

  3. Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Daniel Faurholt-Jepsen, Åse B. Andersen & Mette F. Olsen

  4. Department of Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia

    Alemseged Abdissa

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Jimma, Ethiopia

    Daniel Yilma

  6. Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, Population Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College of London, London, UK

    Jonathan C. Wells

  7. Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Henrik Friis & Mette F. Olsen

  8. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Jimma, Ethiopia

    Tsinuel Girma

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  1. Maria H. Hegelund
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Contributions

MHH: performed statistical analyses and interpreted results, drafted and revised paper. DFJ: Conceived the work, interpreted results revised the paper, and approved the final version. AA: Acquired data, revised the paper, and approved the final version. DY: Acquired data, revised the paper, and approved the final version. ÅBA: Designed the work, revised the paper, and approved the final version. DLC: Interpreted results, revised the paper, and approved the final version. JWC: Interpreted results, revised the paper, and approved the final version. TG: Designed the work, revised the paper, and approved the final version. HF: Designed and conceived the work, interpreted results, revised the paper, and approved the final version. MFO: Designed and conceived the work, acquired data, interpreted results, revised the paper, and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Maria H. Hegelund.

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Hegelund, M.H., Faurholt-Jepsen, D., Abdissa, A. et al. Inflammatory markers as correlates of body composition and grip strength among adults with and without HIV: A cross-sectional study in Ethiopia. Eur J Clin Nutr 76, 973–978 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-021-01056-4

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