Fatty acids and plasma antioxidants in HIV-positive patients: correlation with nutritional and immunological status.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate red blood cell (RBC) and plasma fatty acids (FA) in HIV-positive patients in relation to oxidative stress and nutritional or immunological status.


METHODS
FA, plasma selenium, vitamins A and E were measured in 95 patients divided into four groups according to CD4 cells.


RESULTS
Poly- and di-unsaturated FA (PUFA, DUFA) decreased and saturated FA (SFA) increased in RBC in the patients below 400/mm3 and in plasma in the patients below 50/mm3. RBC SFA correlated to CD4 cells, PUFA to MDA. Unlike vitamin E, plasma vitamin A and selenium decreased in most groups. Plasma SFA and MUFA correlated negatively to selenium and PUFA and DUFA to vitamin E. No correlation was found between PUFA and nutritional markers.


CONCLUSIONS
FA seem to be modified during HIV infection by oxidative stress and disease evolution, but not by denutrition.
Service de Médecine Interne et Pathologie Vasculaire, Hôpital Saint-André, Bordeaux, France.
J
J
Constans
E
E
Peuchant
J L
JL
Pellegrin
C
C
Sergeant
C
C
Hamon
L
L
Dubourg
M J
MJ
Thomas
M
M
Simonoff
I
I
Pellegrin
G
G
Brossard
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D005227:Fatty Acids; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D012643:Selenium