Serum vitamin A levels during tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus infection.
Vitamin A deficiency during tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has not been characterized. A cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV-infected adults with tuberculosis in Butare, Rwanda, in which 29% of the subjects had serum vitamin A levels consistent with deficiency (<1.05 micromol/L). Women had mean serum vitamin A levels of 1.22+/-0.45, compared with 1.47+/-0.68 in men (P < 0.07). A total of 37% of subjects with recent weight loss had vitamin A levels consistent with deficiency, compared with 14% of subjects without weight loss (P < 0.02). This study suggests that vitamin A deficiency is common among adults with tuberculosis and HIV infection in Rwanda.
Centre Universitaire de Santé Publique, Butare, Rwanda.
J M
JM
Rwangabwoba
H
H
Fischman
R D
RD
Semba
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015995:Prevalence; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology