Plasma vitamin B12 level as a potential cofactor in studies of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-related cognitive changes.
Studies of cognitive function in subjects with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection who remain relatively asymptomatic (ie, Centers for Disease Control stages II and III) have provided widely variable estimates of cognitive impairment. In view of the finding that approximately 25% of asymptomatic HIV-1-infected subjects demonstrate either marginal or overt vitamin B12 deficiency, we have investigated plasma vitamin B12 status as a potential cofactor in studies of HIV-1-related cognitive impairment. When cognition was assessed in asymptomatic (Centers for Disease Control stages II and III) HIV-1-infected participants taking into consideration vitamin B12 status, those subjects with low plasma vitamin B12 levels (less than 180 pmol/L) performed more poorly than did those with normal (greater than or equal to 180 pmol/L) vitamin B12 status on specific measures of information processing speed and visuospatial problem-solving skills. These findings suggest that concurrent vitamin B12 deficiency may be a cofactor in subtle cognitive changes observed in the asymptomatic stages of HIV-1 infection. These differences in prevalence of low plasma vitamin B12 levels may help to explain differences among studies in the proportion of HIV-1-infected subjects showing cognitive impairment.
Beach
R S
RS
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Broward General Medical Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33136.
Morgan
R
R
Wilkie
F
F
Mantero-Atienza
E
E
Blaney
N
N
Shor-Posner
G
G
Lu
Y
Y
Eisdorfer
C
C
Baum
M K
MK
D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013028:Space Perception; D014796:Visual Perception; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications
D014805:Vitamin B 12