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Iron Deficiency Anemia From Poor Dietary Intake And Or Absorption Of Iron Causes

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Iron deficiency anemia from poor dietary intake and/ or absorption of iron causes approximately 50% of global anemia. The relationship between HIV and anemia is not known though at times it is a side effect of some ARVs (Kenyan National Guidelines on Nutrition and HIV/AIDS, 2007). Persons with HIV who are anemic progress faster to AIDS than those without. 2.4.1 Weight loss and wasting in HIV/AIDS
The relationship between nutrition and HIV/AIDS is best understood by considering the effect of the disease on body size and composition and the immune system. Body size and composition are used as indicators of protein-energy status, and are commonly expressed in terms of body weight and height (Piwoz and Preble, 2000).
Wasting syndrome found in adult patients in Africa is the severe nutritional manifestation of the disease. Wasting is usually precede by changes in appetite, repeated infections, weight fluctuations and subtler changes in body composition, such as changes in lean body mass and body cell mass (Babameto and Kotler, 1997).
Weight loss and wasting in PLWHA develop as a result of three overlapping processes (Piwoz and Preble, 2000):

a) Reductions in food intake
This may be due to painful sores in the mouth, pharynx, and/or esophagus. Fatigue, depression, changes in mental state, and other psychosocial factors may also play a role by affecting appetite and interest in food. Economic factors affect food availability and the nutritional quality of the diet. Side

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