title: High frequency of vitamin D deficiency in ambulatory HIV-Positive patients.
abstract: Several reports have suggested an increased prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV-infected individuals. Vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fractures. We aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in an outpatient HIV clinic in Boston. We collected serum levels of 25-OH vitamin D and evaluated calcium and vitamin D intake in adult HIV-positive outpatients during the winter and spring of 2005. Fifty-seven subjects were enrolled. The prevalence of moderate (< or = 20 and>10 ng/ml) and severe (< or =10 ng/ml) 25-OH vitamin D deficiency was 36.8% and 10.5%, respectively. Lower vitamin D intake was significantly associated with severe 25-OH vitamin D deficiency (p=0.01). Lactose intolerance tended to be associated with severe vitamin D deficiency (p=0.08). Antiretroviral use and low daily calcium intake were significantly associated with elevated parathyroid hormone levels (p=0.01 and 0.03, respectively). Vitamin D deficiency was frequent in ambulatory HIV-positive patients. HIV-infected individuals living in areas with low exposure to ultraviolet light during winter may benefit from vitamin D supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. Mrodri2@uab.edu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gunawardene
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Robbins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium