Vitamin A status of patients presenting with pulmonary tuberculosis and asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Serum vitamin A was determined in a cross-sectional study of 100 HIV-positive and -negative tuberculosis patients and 144 blood donors. Tuberculosis patients were seen again after 2 months of treatment. Mean vitamin A was lowest among tuberculosis patients co-infected with HIV, and was lower among HIV-positive than -negative donors. Mean vitamin A rose significantly at 2 months in HIV-negative patients, and not in -positive patients. HIV infection was the strongest predictor of low vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency is common in tuberculosis and HIV infection, particularly in those patients who are dually infected, and nutritional supplementation may be beneficial.
Mugusi
F M
FM
Department of Internal Medicine, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania. fmugusi@muchs.ac.tz
Rusizoka
O
O
Habib
N
N
Fawzi
W
W
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D013636:Tanzania; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
D014801:Vitamin A