Nutrition

Eating well is essential to maintaining strength, energy, and a healthy immune system.¹

HIV and many of its treatments can change the way the body processes nutrients and fat. This can affect metabolism and might cause HIV-associated wasting. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to diet and eat properly on a daily basis.¹

Choosing a Healthy Diet

The general recommendations from the U.S. government nutrition guidelines include:

Choosing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free/low-fat milk and milk products
Including lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts in your diet
Checking the nutrition facts label for foods that are:

low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars
rich in potassium, fiber, Vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron

Using the % Daily Value (DV) column when possible. Less than 5% DV is considered low; more than 29% DV is considered high

Building a Meal Plan

In Living Well with HIV & AIDS, a book that provides guidance for people living with HIV, the authors provide the following table of essential nutrients, their functions, and food sources:

Type of nutrient	What it does	Where it comes from	Amount you should eat
Proteins	- Builds and repairs muscles and organ tissues - Fights infection - Provides energy - Helps the immune system	Animal sources: Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy Vegetable sources: Legumes, grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, tofu, and soy	35 grams total for each meal
Carbohydrates	- The main source of energy for metabolism and muscles - Helps build and maintain muscles	Starches/complex carbohydrates: Grain, rice, pasta, bread, cereal, legumes, and vegetables Sugars/simple carbohydrates: Fruit, some dairy products, processed foods NOTE: table sugar, honey, syrup, and jelly add calories with little or no nutritional value	45-60 grams total
Fats	- Builds body fat and provides extra energy for your body to burn - Builds, strengthens, and repairs muscles - Leads to weight gain if eaten in excess	Meat, whole-milk dairy products, nuts, peanuts, seeds, oils, salad dressing, and processed food such as cakes and candies NOTE: Saturated fat increases the risk of cardiovascular disease	10 grams total for each meal

Always speak with a healthcare provider about medications, any symptoms you may be experiencing, and before starting a new diet program.

Learn about the importance of exercise

References:

Diet and Nutrition. HIVInsite Web site. Available at: http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/hiv?page=pb-daily-diet. Accessed April 4, 2011.

Important Risk Information and Indication

Before beginning treatment, patients should discuss with their clinician potential benefits and risks associated with Serostim^® [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection].

You should NOT take Serostim^® if:

You are hospitalized with complications due to heart or abdominal surgery

You are hospitalized for serious injuries

You are hospitalized for respiratory failure

You currently have cancer. Any cancer treatment should be completed before starting Serostim^®

You are allergic to growth hormone products or any materials associated with the product

You should tell your clinician if:

You are pregnant or breastfeeding

You are currently taking any medications for HIV

You have a history of diabetes

The most common adverse reactions associated with Serostim^® are:

Muscle aches

Joint pain

Swelling (particularly of the hands or feet)

These side effects were generally mild-to-moderate in severity, and were often managed by lowering the dose.¹

High blood glucose (sugar levels) may occur in HIV-infected individuals for many reasons and has also been reported in Serostim^® clinical studies. If you have a history of high blood glucose or have other risk factors for glucose intolerance, you should be monitored closely while on Serostim^®. New onset type 2 diabetes or worsening of current diabetes has been reported with Serostim^®. Patients have experienced complications of diabetes, some of which were serious and continued after stopping treatment with Serostim^®.

What is Serostim^®?

Serostim^® is human growth hormone and is the only FDA-approved medicine clinically proven to significantly increase lean body mass and body weight, and improve physical endurance. You must be on anti-retroviral therapy to be prescribed Serostim^®.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

This information is not intended to replace discussions with your doctor. For additional information about Serositm^® please consult the Prescribing Information and ask your doctor if Serostim^® is right for you. You can also call the AXIS Center toll-free at 1-877-714-AXIS (2947). Serostim^® is available by prescription only.

Please see Serostim^® Prescribing Information available in English and Spanish

Reference:

Moyle GJ, Daar ES, Gertner JM, et al. Growth hormone improves lean body mass, physical performance, and quality of life in subjects with HIV-associated weight loss or wasting on highly active antiretroviral therapy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2004;35:367-375.