R. PRASAD An 18-month study on more than 10,500 people with HIV/AIDS in Tamil Nadu found nutritional supplements improved their health In what may be the biggest study ever conducted in India, the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) has found conclusive evidence that providing micro and macronutrients to people living with HIV/AIDS greatly improves their health and quality of life. The 18-month study undertaken in association with Duke University was started in September 2005 in the State. It was undertaken in three centres, covering 10 districts, that provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART). It involved the supply of both micro and macronutrients to people, both adults and children, who were on ART as well as those who did not require it. The objective was to study how nutritional supplementation helped in improving the subjects' health, which in turn improved the socio-economic parameters. Macronutrient supplements (calories, protein, carbohydrate, fat and fibre) were provided to 10,780 people and micronutrient supplements (Vitamin A, B, C and folic acid, to name a few) in the form of tablets to 11,109. The results are quite startling. CD4 count The most significant improvement was seen in the CD4 count in those on treatment. A person infected with HIV is provided ART only when his/her CD4 count comes below 200. In the case of those on ART, the CD4 count that was 113 at the time of starting the study, shot up to 309 six months after the supplementation programme, and finally reached 402 at the end of the 18-month study period. In the case of those who do not require ART, the improvement was marginal