What is the effect of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in an individual with acquired immune ...

When a person consumes too little protein and energy, the result is protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). This is the most serious nutrition problem in the world today, particularly when it is combined with infectious and parasitic diseases that cause diarrhea, which means that nutrients may not be absorbed, or internal blood loss. If the body does not receive adequate protein, the immune system is weakened and the body becomes more susceptible to infections and diseases. This is especially true in the case of AIDS, where a weakened immune system makes adults more susceptible to the virus that causes the disease to develop. In addition, malnutrition is thought to reduce the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs used to treat AIDS.