Evaluation of nutritional status and adherence to dietary monitoring among patients with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 infection

• Published in: Clinical nutrition ESPEN 2022-12, Vol.52, p.198-207
• Main Authors: Paloma, Torres, Claudia, Cople-Rodrigues, Naise, Rocha, Patricia, Brito, Clevio, Fonseca, Marcel, Quintana, Pedro, Brasil, Abelardo, Araújo, Adriana, Bacelo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dietary diversity; Female; HTLV-1; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; Humans; Leukemia, T-Cell; Male; Malnutrition; Middle Aged; Nutritional Status; Obesity; Overweight; Prospective Studies; Therapy adherence
• ISSN: 2405-4577; 2405-4577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.11.004

The nutritional status of people infected with Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is rarely studied. Malnutrition affects the immune system, but the consequences of this remain unknown in HTLV-1 infection. This study aimed to analyze the nutritional status, food intake, and ability to adhere to dietary counseling in people with symptomatic HTLV-1 infection. This was a longitudinal, prospective, observational study in which the nutritional status of people with symptomatic HTLV-1 was monitored between June 2016 and August 2019 at a referral center. At the baseline (day 0) and last stage (day 90) anthropometric, bioimpedance, and dietary assessments were performed. In total, 71 participants with symptomatic HTLV-1 infection were enrolled, the majority (43, 60.6%) of whom were female. The mean age was 59.2 (±11.1) years. Participants were often overweight or obese (40, 56.3%) had a BMI above 25 kg/m2. The average consumption of recommended fibers and liquids was positively associated with percent lean body mass (%LM). Most participants who were overweight (36.6%) or obese (19.70%) and their nutritional status and eating behavior did not change during the follow-up period. Dietary counseling was unable to promote a change in the monotony of the existing eating habits. Participants with good adherence to nutritional guidelines had higher dietary diversity scores. A high proportion of participants were overweight or obese. Adherence to dietary counseling was low, and its success was limited in improving dietary diversity/nutritional status. Loss to follow-up was a limitation of this study.