icronutrients is in the lower bowels (ileum and colon)” (Vaghefi & Castellon-Vogel, 1994.p.7). In addition, deficiencies display early symptoms that are often nonspecific in nature for example, fatigue, irritability, dry skin and these cannot be diagnosed unless nutrients progress to levels of significant body depletion. Symptoms of considerable body weakening are visual changes resulting from vitamin A depletion, peripheral neuropathy resultant of vitamin B6, gum bleeding consequential of vitamin C exhaustion, and neurological or neuropsychiatry symptom resulting from vitamin 12.Altered MetabolismIn the HIV-AIDS progression an individual’s metabolism is varied by the HIV virus as changes are sustained in the endocrine, liver, kidney, pancreatic and adrenal functions. These metabolic changes hasten the development of malnutrition by altering nutrient utilization and increased consumption of body stores, particularly in the muscles. An altered metabolism would influence and change fat and protein usage within the body *? as well as changes an altered metabolism would change the body’s response to infections. *A study exposed that patients who had an altered metabolism in 70% of PWAS, became lactose intolerant. *Due to the metabolic changes within the body, these patients were unable to consume ice cream, cheese, and milk without developing diarrhea, intestinal gas and bloating. Dietary Problems“AIDS produces an unexplained neurological syndrome referred to as AIDS encephalophathy which can result in confusion and dementia, which may lead to the patient not remembering how or when to eat.” (Vaghefi & Castellon-Vogel, 1994 p.2.) Additionally it would result in the decrease of nutritional status of the patient. The blood micronutrients levels of PWAS are lower than people who are not infected. “But determining the macronutrients status of PWAS is difficult, since infection causes shifting of some...
