Nutrition rehabilitation of HIV-infected and HIV-negative undernourished children utilizing spirulina

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of an alimentary integrator composed of spirulina ( Spirulina platensis; SP), produced at the Centre Medical St Camille of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on the nutritional status of undernourished HIV- infected and HIV- negative children. We compared two groups of children: 84 were HIV- infected and 86 were HIV- negative. The duration of the study was 8 weeks. Anthropometric and haematological parameters allowed us to appreciate both the nutritional and biological effect of SP supplement to traditional meals. Rehabilitation with SP shows on average a weight gain of 15 and 25 g/ day in HIV- infected and HIV- negative children, respectively. The level of anaemia decreased during the study in all children, but recuperation was less efficient among HIV- infected children. In fact 81.8% of HIV-negative undernourished children recuperated as opposed to 63.6% of HIV-infected children (Z: 1.70 (95% CI - 0.366, - 0.002, p = 0.088)). Our results confi rm that SP is a good food supplement for undernourished children. In particular, rehabilitation with SP also seems to correct anaemia and weight loss in HIVinfected children, and even more quickly in HIV- negative undernourished children. Copyright (c) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.