This was a non-randomized, non-controlled nutrition intervention study in which
HIV-infected adult patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of a reference center for
infectious and parasitic diseases (Centro de Referência de Infecções Parasitárias Orestes
Diniz of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil), between October 2005 and
December 2006. Inclusion criteria were: HIV-positive individuals as confirmed by
polymerase chain reaction; age ≥ 18 years old; patients who have been receiving ARV drugs
at the same dose for a minimum period of 3 months prior to admission. Exclusion criteria