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

Background & aims: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusion: 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.