The Relationship Between some Macro and Micro-nutrient Status on Gut Dysbiosis Pattern in HIV Patients in the South West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition leads to an alteration of the digestive microbiota with a disappearance of methanogenic arches that are intolerant to oxygen, a depletion of anaerobic bacteria and a relative proliferation of Proteobacteria, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus which are oxygen tolerant bacterial groups containing many pathogens potentially responsible for infectious diarrhoea and immune system alterations. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of nutritional deficiency on the microbiota in HIV Positive Patients on ART. Materials and Methods; Blood and stool samples were collected from 143 HIV positive participants in a period of 3 months. Stools culture was done to identify gut bacteria. Blood samples were analysed for micro (calcium and magnesium) and macronutrient (albumin, and glucose). Questionnaires were used for sociodemographic data while anthropometric data was measured using standard methods. Results: The prevalence of wasting and obesity was 4.2% (6) and 18.9% (27) respectively. Calcium deficiency was 28.7% (41) and magnesium deficiency was 13.3% (19). With respect to macronutrient deficiency, Citation: Anye DT, Nyingchu RV, Kamsu KPC, Henry DM, Sirri TN, et al. (2024) The Relationship Between some Macro and Micro-Nutrient Status on Gut Dysbiosis Pattern in HIV Patients in the South West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon. On J Clin & Med Case Rep 1(1): 1-19. 2 hypoalbuminaemia was 17.7% (25) while hypoglycaemia was 16.1 % (23). Proteobacteria, Enterococcus 57% (82) and Fusobacteria 78% (112) had increase prevalence. Gut Firmicute (lactic acid bacteria), actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes which are desirable flora had reduced prevalence. We had a Firmicute to Bacteroidetes ratio of 10:8. Micronutrient deficiency was mostly associated with increase prevalence of Klebsiella spp (p = 0.04), Citrobacter spp (p = 0.04) and Enterobacter spp (p = 0.01) while macro-nutrient deficiencies were associated reduce Bifidiobacterium spp (p = 0.02) and Lactobacillus (p = 0.02). However, both were associated with increased proteobacteria. Low income was the most likely reason for poor feeding which resulted to malnutrition. Conclusion: Malnutrition is still a major problem in the management of HIV and the prevention of AIDS in Cameroon. Our findings uncover dysbiotic changes in gut microbiome in HIV infected persons with malnutrition and are associated with increase susceptibility to infection by opportunistic microbes. Familiarity with these associations will be of tremendous use to the practitioner as well as the patient.