Vitamin A levels in HIV/AIDS

East African Medical Journal
E M KafwembeP Ngalande

Abstract

To study the correlation of vitamin A concentrations in patients with AIDS, HIV positive symptom free and HIV negative symptom free men and women. A cross-sectional study. Male and female volunteers aged between 15 and 60 years willing to undergo an HIV-test. Participants came from different backgrounds within the city of Ndola. Some were urban while others were peri-urban dwellers. They were included in the study only if they were willing to undergo the HIV test regardless of their place of residence. After obtaining consent blood samples were taken from the participants using needle and syringe. Whole blood was used to measure haematological indices while serum was used to measure vitamin A concentrations and HIV status. One hundred and thirty five participants were recruited for the study. Vitamin A was analysed in eighty seven HIV negative symptom free, forty one HIV-positive symptom free and seven AIDS cases. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the variance of vitamin A levels in the three groups. Vitamin A deficiency is defined as blood concentrations below 30 micrograms/dl. Using this cut-off point, the Odds Ratio for deficiency if HIV-positive was found to be 6.3 (2.5, 16.7 p < 0.0001). The Odds Ratio for H...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 26, 2003·The British Journal of Nutrition·M E VisserG D Hussey

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