Antioxidants in HIV positive children.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the antioxidant status in HIV positive children.


METHODS
HIV positive children under the age group of 3-12 years from lower socio-economic strata were chosen for the study (Group 1). The values were compared with normal children (Group 2) not suffering from any disease in the same age group and similar socio-economic strata. The antioxidants chosen for the present study were vitamin A (Retinol), vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (alpha tocopherol).


RESULTS
Results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using student 't' test (in the present study 'z' test was applied). The antioxidants vitamin A, C and E decreased in HIV positive children as compared to controls. Vitamin A was significant to the level of p< 0.01 and vitamin C and E to the level of p< 0.001 and p< 0.02 respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease in antioxidants A, C and E in HIV positive children is due to increased utilization of antioxidant micronutrients because of increased oxidative stress caused due to free radicals.
Srinivas
Aruna
A
Department of Biochemistry, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical, College, Sion, Mumbai, India.
Dias
Bina F
BF
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid