Effect of intake of probiotics and probiotic fermented foods on clinical outcomes among people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of probiotics and of probiotic-fermented foods on CD4 T-cell count, viral load, anaemia and body mass index (BMI) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). METHODS: In this article, we systematically reviewed the evidence on the influence of probiotic supplementation on CD4 lymphocyte count, viral load and anaemia among PLHIV on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and those who were HAART-naive. Medical literature databases identified randomised trials and pre-post studies of probiotic supplementation and HIV-related outcomes, and random effects meta-analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The preponderance of the evidence suggests that probiotic supplementation only improved CD4 lymphocyte count modestly, with quantitatively greater impact among individuals who were HAART-naive compared to HAART-experienced individuals. Probiotic supplementation improved CD4 lymphocyte count by 53 cells/mm3 (95% CI: 22 to 85) from 18 studies. Probiotic supplementation however reduced haemoglobin concentration by -2.1 g/L (95% CI: -4.0 to -0.2). Although viral load remain unchanged in HAART-experienced participants following probiotic supplementation, HAART-naïve participants saw a decrease in viral load. There were too few studies on the impact of probiotic supplementation on viral load (N = 1). CONCLUSION: Probiotic supplementation resulted in a modest increase in CD4 lymphocyte count among HAART-naive individuals with no significant change observed among HAART-experienced ones. Viral load and haemoglobin concentration also remained unchanged following probiotic supplementation. Further rigorous and well-powered studies may evaluate the effect of probiotic supplementation on important clinical outcomes among PLHIV on HAART.

Nutrition counselling and clinical outcomes in HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: People living with the HIV (PLHIV) are at an increased risk of various diseases due to a weakened immune system, particularly if they are naïve or poorly adherent to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Nutrients play a critical role in improving immune health, especially among this population. We systematically reviewed the evidence concerning the impact of nutritional counselling on the occurrence of important clinical outcomes among PLHIV. METHODS: Medical literature databases (PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science) were searched from inception to October 2022 for relevant published studies (n = 12) of nutritional counselling and HIV-related outcomes in adults on ART. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted when the exposure-outcome relationships were similar in three or more studies. RESULTS: Although the methodologies of nutritional intervention varied across all studies, overall, the evidence from the meta-analysis indicates a nsignificant positive association between nutrition counselling and improvements in CD4 cell count, body mass index and low-density lipoprotein concentration. However, the existing literature does not provide enough evidence to establish a significant impact of nutrition counselling on other immune, anthropometric, and metabolic outcomes including viral load, weight, and lean mass due to the differences in the study designs. CONCLUSION: Well-powered randomized controlled trials are needed that explore the effect of evidence-based, individualized nutrition counselling on HIV-related clinical outcomes.

Overtreatment of malaria in the Nigerian healthcare setting: prescription practice, rationale and consequences.

Nigeria is one of the countries in the world with the highest burden of malaria, accounting for a quarter of all cases in Africa. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, microscopic examination remains the gold standard for laboratory confirmation of malaria. However, the policy and practice of presumptive treatment of malaria for all febrile illnesses has been widely advocated in sub-Saharan Africa. Presumptive management of fevers and/or other symptoms of malaria results in over-diagnosis, and consequently overtreatment. This article discusses the overtreatment of malaria as practiced in Nigeria and other African regions against standard treatment guidelines, highlights a wide range of its associated effects on patients and proffers possible solutions to curb the unethical practice of malaria overtreatment.