Niacin nutritional status in HIV type 1-positive children: preliminary data.
OBJECTIVE
HIV infection induces a state of pellagra in cell culture models. This study compared the nutritional status and the 24-hour urine excretion of N-methylnicotinamide between HIV-positive children and HIV-negative children who were or were not born of mothers with HIV-1 infection.


METHODS
Forty patients were included in the study: HIV-positive children (group 1; n = 20), HIV-negative children born to infected mothers (group 2; n = 10), and HIV-negative control children (group 3; n = 10). Usual dietary intake was assessed by a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Weight and height were assessed and compared with the reference data of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the estimation of fat-free mass and total body water, bioelectrical impedance technique was used. N-methylnicotinamide was measured by a modified method of high-performance liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
Groups were matched in relation to age, sex, percentage of malnutrition, anthropometric measures, and body composition. Daily niacin intake did not differ statistically across groups (group 1 = 18.0 +/- 11.4 mg/day; group 2 = 18.9 +/- 8.0 mg/day; group 3 = 14.2 +/- 5.2 mg/day), nor did intake of tryptophan, vitamin B6, and zinc. The values of urinary niacin per gram of creatinine were similar and adequate across the groups (group 1 = 4.68 [0.75-14.9]; group 2 = 3.74 [1.13-5.69]; group 3 = 3.85 [1.80-8.19]).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV-positive children excreted the same amount of N-methylnicotinamide in urine as did the control children. These findings may be attributed to similarities in nutritional status, adequate intestinal absorption (no children experienced diarrhea) and stable clinical condition.
Tremeschin
Marina Hjertquist
MH
Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Cervi
Maria Célia
MC
Camelo Júnior
José Simon
JS
Negrini
Bento Vidal de Moura
BV
Martinez
Francisco Eulógio
FE
Motta
Fabrízio
F
Meirelles
Mônica Silva de Souza
MS
Vanucchhi
Helio
H
Monteiro
Jacqueline Pontes
JP
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D009525:Niacin / Q000172:deficiency*; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010383:Pellagra / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
D009536:Niacinamide; D009525:Niacin; C008472:N-methylnicotinamide