Maternal leucine metabolism during late pregnancy is mildly
altered in HIV(þ) women however the clinical importance of this is
not clear. Well-controlled viremia and comprehensive pre-natal
care during HIV(þ) pregnancy might be important to minimize
abnormalities in maternal metabolism and adverse infant outcomes.
Larger, well-characterized studies examining maternal
substrate metabolism during different conditions and the effect on
infant outcomes are needed in order to quantify maternal nutritional
needs during pregnancy in both well-nourished and food
insecure environments.