title: Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake is adversely related to liver function in HIV-infected subjects: the THUSA study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dietary fat intake in the South African population is increasing. This population also has a high prevalence of HIV infection. However, information about metabolic effects of dietary fatty acids on HIV-infected subjects is lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to investigate the relation between dietary fatty acid intake and liver function in HIV-infected compared with HIV-uninfected subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional epidemiologic survey included a representative sample of 1854 apparently healthy black volunteers aged > or =15 y, who were recruited from 37 randomly selected sites throughout the North West province of South Africa. Data from 216 asymptomatic HIV-infected and 1604 HIV-uninfected subjects were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), linoleic acid (n-6), and the ratio of PUFAs to saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were positively associated with all the liver enzymes measured in HIV-infected subjects (R = 0.16-0.65). Most of these R values differed significantly from the R values for HIV-uninfected subjects. No associations were seen between liver enzymes and intakes of SFAs and monounsaturated fatty acids. Vitamin E intake was positively associated with serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (R = 0.23), alanine aminotransferase (R = 0.37), and aspartate aminotransferase (R = 0.58) in HIV-infected subjects; these correlations differed significantly from those of the HIV-uninfected subjects because PUFA sources are the main carriers of vitamin E.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that n-6 PUFA intakes may be related to liver damage in these HIV-infected asymptomatic subjects. The reasons or mechanisms responsible are not clear, and further research is necessary to determine the optimal safe amounts for intake of n-6 PUFAs by HIV-infected subjects, especially in countries with traditionally high intakes of n-6 PUFA-rich vegetable oils.
authors: School of Physiology, Nutrition, and Consumer Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, Republic of South Africa. vgewo@puk.ac.za
authors: Welma
authors: W
authors: Oosthuizen
authors: Averalda
authors: A
authors: van Graan
authors: Annamarie
authors: A
authors: Kruger
authors: Hester H
authors: HH
authors: Vorster