Micronutrient status indicators in individuals single- or double-infected with HIV and Wuchereria bancrofti before and after DEC treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To identify possible associations between selected micronutrient status indicators (serum ferritin, retinol, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, and the acute phase reactant alpha-1 antichymotrypsin) and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or Wuchereria bancrofti, and to assess the effect of the antifilarial drug diethylcarbamazine (DEC) on the micronutrient status indicators in individuals positive for one or both of the two infections.


METHODS
Serum concentrations of ferritin, retinol, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and the acute phase reactant alpha-1 antichymotrypsin were examined in 59 individuals with HIV, W. bancrofti infection, or both, in Tanga Region, Tanzania, before and 12 weeks after treatment with DEC.


RESULTS
HIV infection, but not W. bancrofti infection, was associated with higher serum ferritin concentrations and lower beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol. Neither HIV infection nor W. bancrofti infection was associated with serum retinol. The four micronutrient status indicators and alpha-1 antichymotrypsin were generally lower at 12 weeks after treatment both in the DEC and the placebo groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The negative association between HIV infection and the antioxidant vitamins beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol may be due to infection-induced oxidative stress, whereas W. bancrofti infection seemed not to be associated with oxidative stress. The drop in antioxidant vitamin concentrations after treatment may be due to oxidative stress induced by HIV progression (HIV infected) and inflammation around dead adult worms and microfilariae (W. bancrofti infected) rather than to an effect of DEC.
Nielsen
Nina O
NO
DBL-Centre for Health Research and Development, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. nij@ssi.dk
Simonsen
Paul E
PE
Kaestel
Pernille
P
Krarup
Henrik
H
Magnussen
Pascal
P
Magesa
Stephen
S
Friis
Henrik
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005369:Filaricides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti; D055815:Young Adult; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin / Q000097:blood; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D005369:Filaricides; D018977:Micronutrients; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D005293:Ferritins; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine