RESUMO
<b>Background and Objective:</b> The HIV is the virus that can cause AIDS by attacking white blood cells such as T cells CD4<sup>+</sup>. This study aimed to determine the relationship between antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and supplements of black tea (<i>Camellia sinensis</i> var. <i>assamica</i>) powder to increase the CD4 and Body Mass Index (BMI) in patients with HIV. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> This study used a quasi-experiment. From the average number of 10 patient visits every month in the period of January to March, 2021 in the outpatient clinic for patients diagnosed positive with HIV-AIDS, seventy patients were enlisted and divided into 2 groups from 12 districts, 35 groups intervention received ARV drugs and supplements steeping black tea powder form as much as 1,505 mg, equivalent to 5-7 glasses a 1,000-1,400 mL/day for 24 weeks, while the control group of patients received ARV drugs, standard diet each house and nutrition education. <b>Results:</b> This study showed a BMI before the intervention control group's 1st week 19.31±2.17 and after the intervention for 24 weeks, a BMI of 18.78±2.42. CD4 levels before the intervention, the 1st week were 380.57±78.63 and after the intervention for 24 weeks, 365.74±81.13 in this case either BMI or CD4 did not experience significant improvements. While the intervention group before the intervention 1st week BMI was 21.61±3.32 and after the intervention for 24 weeks, 22.2±3.19 or increased significantly (p = 0.002) and the levels of CD4 in the 1st week before the intervention, 360.91±221.20 and after the intervention for 24 weeks, 425.14±178.87 or increased significantly (p = 0.003). <b>Conclusion:</b> The ARV therapy and black tea powder significantly increased levels of CD4 and BMI HIV sufferers through the improvement of the status of T-cell immunity and body mass index.
