Nutritional assessment of vitamin E in malnourished patients with AIDS.
Malnourished patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) may have low serum levels and reduced intake of alpha-tocopherol, mainly in the presence of acute-phase response. The aims of this study were to compare intake and serum levels of alpha-tocopherol between malnourished (MN) and non-malnourished (NMN) AIDS patients and to correlate alpha-tocopherol intake and serum levels. Undernutrition was defined as having a body mass index lower than 18. 5 kg/m(2) or a height-creatinine index lower than 70%. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire assessed alpha-tocopherol intake. High-performance liquid chromatography determined vitamin serum levels. The patients were divided into MN (n = 14) and NMN (n = 15) groups. There were no statistical differences in relation to clinical findings between MN and NMN, respectively, including moniliasis (7/14 versus 4/15), neurocryptoccocosis and neurotoxoplasmosis (6/14 versus 6/15), pulmonary tuberculosis (4/14 versus 2/15), and fever (1/14 versus 3/15). MN and NMN groups had similar peripheral blood CD(4) levels (111.4+/-87.1 versus 124.4+/-90.9 cells/mm(3)), and both groups had similar and adequate alpha-tocopherol intake (MN = 50.0+/-11.0 versus NMN = 47.2+/-16.5 mg) and serum levels (MN = 17.8+/-7.2 versus NMN = 19.8+/-6.3 micromol/L). Vitamin E intake and serum levels did not show a significant correlation (r = -0.22, P 0.05). Protein-energy nutrition status and acute-phase response were not factors determining vitamin status among AIDS patients.
Pontes Monteiro
J
J
Nutrition Support Team, Medical School of Uberaba, Uberaba, Brazil.
Ferreira da Cunha
D
D
Freire Carvalho Cunha
S
S
Modesto dos Santos
V
V
Jordão
A A
AA
Correia
D
D
Silva-Vergara
M L
ML
Vannucchi
H
H
Júnior
V R
VR
Pires Bianchi
M L
ML
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D019247:HIV Wasting Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*
D014810:Vitamin E