title: Micronutrient profiles in HIV-1-infected heterosexual adults.
abstract: There is compelling evidence that micronutrients can profoundly affect immunity. We surveyed vitamin supplement use and circulating concentrations of 22 nutrients and glutathione in 64 HIV-1 seropositive men and women and 33 seronegative controls participating in a study of heterosexual HIV-1 transmission. We assayed antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E; total carotenes), vitamins B6 and B12, folate, thiamin, niacin, biotin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, free and total choline and carnitine, biopterin, inositol, copper, zinc, selenium, and magnesium. HIV-infected patients had lower mean circulating concentrations of magnesium (p < 0.0001), total carotenes (p = 0.009), total choline (p = 0.002), and glutathione (p = 0.045), and higher concentrations of niacin (p < 0.0001) than controls. Fifty-nine percent of HIV+ patients had low concentrations of magnesium, compared with 9% of controls (p < 0.0001). These abnormal concentrations were unrelated to stage of disease. Participants who took vitamin supplements had consistently fewer low concentrations of antioxidants, across HIV infection status and disease stage strata (p = 0.0006). Nevertheless, 29% of the HIV+ patients taking supplemental vitamins had subnormal levels of one or more antioxidants. The frequent occurrence of abnormal micronutrient nutriture, as found in these HIV+ subjects, may contribute to disease pathogenesis. The low magnesium concentrations may be particularly relevant to HIV-related symptoms of fatigue, lethargy, and impaired mentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103-2714, USA.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Skurnick
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bogden
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheffet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quattrone
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Louria
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000032:analysis*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018977:Micronutrients; D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins; D005978:Glutathione