Golden Rice Cookies With Piper Crocatum for Blood Glucose Control and Quality of Life in People Living With HIV With Hyperglycemia

People living with HIV (PLHIV) are at higher risk of developing hyperglycemia due to long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART), metabolic complications, and lifestyle factors. Hyperglycemia not only worsens the prognosis of HIV but also negatively affects quality of life. Dietary interventions using functional foods may provide a safe and acceptable strategy to address this issue.

Golden Rice is biofortified with β-carotene, which has been associated with improved insulin sensitivity and reduced glycemic response. Piper crocatum (red betel leaf) contains polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins with antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Combining Golden Rice and Piper crocatum in a practical cookie form offers a potentially effective and acceptable intervention for PLHIV with hyperglycemia.

This trial is designed to evaluate whether daily consumption of Golden Rice Cookies enriched with Piper crocatum can improve fasting plasma glucose and health-related quality of life in PLHIV with hyperglycemia compared to iso-caloric control cookies. The findings may contribute to evidence-based dietary strategies to improve metabolic outcomes and well-being in PLHIV.

Inclusion criteria

• HIV positive diagnosis based on medically documented serological test results (ELISA/Western Blot/rapid test).
• Age 35-59 years.
• Suffering from hyperglycemia, defined by a Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) value of ≥ 100 mg/dl (prediabetes or diabetes), according to ADA (American Diabetes Association) standards and a physician's report.
• Taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least the past 2 years to ensure stable clinical status.
• CD4 count ≥ 200 cells/mm³, to exclude participants with severely compromised immunity that could impact metabolism and quality of life.
• Not currently undergoing strict diet therapy or other nutritional interventions to avoid nutritional bias.
• Willing to sign informed consent and participate in all stages of the study

Exclusion criteria

• Having acute complications of HIV/AIDS, such as severe opportunistic infections, that may interfere with interventions or quality of life measurements.
• Having a history of other chronic diseases that affect glucose metabolism, such as advanced chronic kidney disease, active cancer, hyperthyroidism, or severe liver disease.
• Using medications that can affect blood sugar levels (e.g., steroids, thiazide diuretics, or other hyperglycemic drugs) in the past month.
• Allergies to ingredients in Golden Rice Cookies (Red Rice) or Piper crocatum.
• Being pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Participating in other nutrition intervention programs, intensive physical training.
• Inability to read or understand instructions (e.g., due to severe cognitive impairment) that may interfere with completing the quality of life questionnaire.