Plasma vitamin A and zinc levels in HIV-infected adults in Cape Town, South Africa

Visser, M E; Maartens, G; Kossew, G; Hussey, G D

Plasma vitamin A and zinc levels in HIV-infected adults in Cape Town, South Africa

Journal Article

2003

Journal Title

Nutrition Research Reviews

Link to Journal

https://dx.doi.org/10.1079/BJN2002806

Department

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Faculty

Faculty of Health Sciences

Abstract

A cross-sectional study of 132 adults attending an HIV clinic in Cape Town, South Africa, was conducted to determine predictors of low plasma vitamin A and Zn levels. No patients were on antiretroviral therapy. The possible confounding effect of the acute-phase response was controlled by including C-reactive protein levels in multivariate analysis and by excluding active opportunistic infections. Retinol levels were low (< 1.05 μmol/l) in 39% of patients with early disease (WHO clinical stages I and II) compared with 48 and 79 % of patients with WHO stage III and IV respectively (P<0.01). Plasma Zn levels were low (< 10.7 μmol/l) in 20% of patients with early disease v. 36 and 45 % with stage III and IV disease respectively (P< 0.05). C-reactive protein levels were normal in 63 % of subjects. Weak, positive associations were found between CD4+lymphocyte count and plasma levels of retinol (r 0.27; 95 % CI 0.1, 0.43) and Zn (r 0.31; 95% CI 0.25, 0.46). Multivariate analysis showed the following independent predictors of low retinol levels: WHO stage IV (odds ratio 3.4; 95 % CI 2.1, 5.7) and body weight (odds ratio per 5 kg decrease 1.15; 95% CI, 1-08, 1.25), while only body weight was significantly associated with low Zn levels (OR per 5 kg decrease 1.19; 95% CI 1.09, 1.30). CD4+lymphocyte count <200/μl was not significantly associated with either low retinol or Zn levels. In resource-poor settings, simple clinical features (advanced disease and/or weight loss) are associated with lowered blood concentrations of vitamin A and/or Zn. The clinical significance of low plasma retinol and/or Zn levels is unclear and more research is required to establish the role of multiple micronutrient intervention strategies in HIV disease.

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