Volume 89, Issue 4, April (2003), pp. 475-483 © The Author 2003
doi:10.1079/BJN2002806

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

M. E. Visser^1,*, G. Maartens², G. Kossew and G. D. Hussey^3
1Nutrition and Dietetics Unit and 
²Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Medicine and the ³Child Health Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa

 (Received 18 March 2002–Revised 18 September 2002–Accepted 5 November 2002)

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.

Abbreviations: CRP; C-reactive protein; IQR; interquartile range
Corresponding Author: Ms Marianne Visser, fax +27 21 4066534, email mvisser@uctgsh1.uct.ac.za

Keywords:
HIV infection: Vitamin A: Zinc: C-Reactive Protein: Africa