Vitamin A deficiency in non-vitamin-supplemented patients with AIDS: a cross-sectional study.
The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and its association with dietary retinol intake in patients with AIDS was assessed in a cross-sectional study. Sixty eligible patients with AIDS provided serum samples that were analyzed for retinol content. Exclusion criteria included current use of vitamin supplements (57% of the 140 willing to participate) and pregnancy (none). Past dietary intake was determined using a standardized food intake frequency questionnaire. The prevalence of hyporetinemia was 22%. This was a 241-fold greater prevalence than that of a representative sample of the U.S. population, after adjusting for age and sex. There was a positive association between serum retinol status and dietary intake, but 27% of those with adequate intake had serum retinol levels below the normal range. These findings suggest that regardless of intake, patients with AIDS may represent a population at considerable risk of vitamin A deficiency.
Infectious Disease Section, St. Vincent's Hospital, New York City, New York 10011.
D L
DL
Karter
A J
AJ
Karter
R
R
Yarrish
C
C
Patterson
P H
PH
Kass
J
J
Nord
J W
JW
Kislak
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
D014801:Vitamin A