Vitamin D and calcium levels in Ugandan adults with human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D increases cathelicidin production, and might alter mortality due to tuberculosis (TB) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection. However, due to abundant sun exposure, vita min D levels might be excellent among Ugandans with HIV and TB.


METHODS
We measured 25(OH)D and calcium levels in 50 HIV-negative, 50 HIV-infected and 50 TB-HIV coinfected Ugandan adults.


RESULTS
Mean ± standard deviation 25(OH)D levels were 26 ± 7 ng/ml in HIV-negative, 28 ± 11 ng/ml in HIV-infected and 24 ± 11 ng/ml in TB-HIV co-infected adults (P > 0.05 all comparisons). Vitamin D deficiency (< 12 ng/ml) was present in 10% of the HIV-infected subjects, 12% of the TB-HIV co-infected and none of the healthy controls (P = 0.03 for healthy vs. TB, P > 0.05 for other comparisons); 20% of the healthy controls, 22% of the HIV-positive and 38% of the TB-HIV co-infected subjects (P = 0.047 for healthy vs. TB, P > 0.05 for other comparisons) had suboptimal vitamin D levels (< 20 ng/ml). No participant had hypercalcemia. Serum 25(OH)D levels correlated positively with body mass index (r = 0.22, P = 0.03) and serum calcium levels (r = 0.18, P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Ugandan HIV-infected adults with and without TB commonly had suboptimal vitamin D levels. Clinical trials are needed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D on health outcomes in HIV-infected patients with low vitamin D levels.
Mbarara University of Science and Technology/Teaching Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda. dnansera@yahoo.co.uk
D
D
Nansera
F M
FM
Graziano
D J
DJ
Friedman
M K
MK
Bobbs
A N
AN
Jones
K E
KE
Hansen
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D060085:Coinfection / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013472:Sunlight; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D002118:Calcium