Journal Article Epublish
PubMed: 42797764 DOI: 10.3390/v18090931
Eating Habits and Possible Effects of Mediterranean Diet on Body Composition in Ageing People Living with HIV in Two Italian Centres.
Viruses 18(9)
Authors: Maria Mazzitelli, Giacomo Berti, Valentina Camozzi, Elisa Mazza, Samuele Gardin, Chiara Davoli, Chiara Costa, Vincenzo Scaglione, Tiziana Montalcini, Enrico Maria Trecarichi, Annamaria Cattelan, Carlo Torti
Affiliations
- Dipartimento di Sicurezza e Bioetica-Sezione di Malattie Infettive, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy.
- Unit of Clinical Research, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy.
- Department of Medicine DIMED, Endocrine Unit, University of Padova, 35128 Padua, Italy.
- Research Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Metabolic Diseases, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria "Renato Dulbecco", 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita, Della Salute e Delle Professioni Sanitarie, Link Campus University, 00165 Rome, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The relationship between diet and body composition in people with HIV (PWH) is still not well defined. Therefore, our primary objective was to assess the association between Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence and body composition measured by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Secondly, we aimed to assess differences between people living in the north (Padua, Veneto Region, Italy) vs. those living in the south of Italy (Catanzaro, Calabria Region, Italy) and with respect to ethnicity.
METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, adults with HIV with a confirmed virological suppression were enrolled at two Italian HIV clinics. MD adherence was assessed using the validated MedDiet Score, with high adherence being defined as a score ≥ 25. All participants underwent whole-body DXA. Anthropometric and DXA-derived measures were compared between people with high vs. low adherence to MD, and multivariable linear regression adjusted for age, sex, and CD4 + count at nadir was performed.
RESULTS
Among 130 participants (81.5% male; median age 57 years), 105 (80.8%) showed high MD adherence. High adherence to MD was more common among participants from Southern Italy than among those from Northern Italy and was associated with Caucasian ethnicity, higher education, higher CD4 + count and CD4/CD8 ratio, and a lower prevalence of obesity and neurological disorders. DXA analyses showed lower total and trunk fat mass and higher lumbar spine bone mineral density in highly adherent individuals. After adjustment, high MD adherence remained independently associated with lower BMI (β -5.3, 95% CI -7.3 to -3.4; p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
In ageing PWH, high MD adherence was associated with a more favourable clinical profile and healthier body composition, particularly lower central adiposity and BMI. Prospective and interventional studies are needed to clarify the role of this type of diet in PWH.
MeSH
Cd4 Lymphocyte Count, Comorbidity, Eating, Virology, Body Composition, Diet, Mediterranean, Diet