What this Trial Is About

This research aims to explore how adopting a Mediterranean diet can improve health outcomes for adults living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). People living with HIV often face chronic inflammation, immune activation, and increased cardiovascular risk due to the virus and ART side effects. This study seeks to find dietary strategies to reduce these risks and enhance quality of life by improving metabolic health and reducing immune activation. The study is a randomized clinical trial involving 64 participants with HIV at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, divided into a control group and an intervention group in a 1:2 ratio. The intervention group receives personalized counseling to follow the Mediterranean diet, including tailored meal plans, education on food choices, and virtual follow-ups at weeks 4 and 12 to support adherence. The control group receives general dietary advice through informational leaflets without individualized counseling. Participants will be followed for 48 weeks with evaluations at baseline, week 24, and week 48. Participants will attend clinical visits where researchers will collect medical history, measure body mass index, waist circumference, weight, and assess diet adherence through questionnaires. Laboratory tests will track lipid profiles, inflammatory and immune markers, and other biomarkers, while imaging tests will evaluate arterial stiffness and coronary plaque burden. The study will measure changes in cholesterol levels, inflammation, arterial stiffness, diet adherence, quality of life, and cardiovascular risk indicators over 24 and 48 weeks to assess the impact of dietary changes.

Impact of Mediterranean Diet in Cardiovascular Risk Among People With HIV