Nutrition and HIV infection in children.

HIV infection has profound effects on a patient's nutritional status because it can modulate appetite, nutrient absorption and basal metabolic rate. In addition, HIV infection can lead to the depletion of a variety of vitamins and micronutrients including vitamins A, D, B2, B6, B12, L-carnitine, iron, zinc and selenium. This review article summarizes existing data regarding nutritional defects in HIV-infected patients and the results of clinical studies addressing the effects of nutritional supplementation in infected patients.