Vitamin D status in young HIV infected women of various ethnic origins: incidence of vitamin D deficiency and possible impact on bone density.
BACKGROUND
Decreased bone mineral density (BMD) was reported in HIV infected patients. Mechanisms leading to this decrease are poorly understood.


OBJECTIVE
To assess factors relating to BMD in young HIV infected Israeli women of Ethiopian and Caucasian origin.


METHODS
75 young HIV infected women aged 34.5 ± 8.5 followed up at the Institute of Allergy, Clinical Immunology & AIDS filled a questionnaire about sun exposure, daily calcium intake and dress habits. Data about HIV status and treatment regimens were collected from the patients' charts. Serum hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, bone turnover markers and bone densitometry were evaluated.


RESULTS
28 (65%) of Ethiopians and 2 (6.25%) of Caucasians had 25(OH)D serum levels <10 ng/ml (vitamin D deficiency), p = 0.001. 21 (67.7%) Ethiopians and 16 (39%) Caucasians avoided sun exposure, p = 0.019. Mean daily calcium intake was 491 ± 268.6 mg and 279 ± 252.6 mg, respectively, p = 0.001. Z scores < -1 found at Lumbar spine in 26 (89.7%), at Femoral neck in 20 (69%) at Total hip in 17 (58.6%) of vitamin D deficient patients compared to 20 (48.8%), 17 (41.5%), 9 (22%), in patients with 25(OH)D > 10 ng/ml, p < 0.01, <0.03, <0.001, respectively. Significantly more Ethiopian than Caucasian women covered their face (32.3% and 9.5%, p = 0.003) and hands (58.1% and 30.9%, p = 0.03). There was no difference in bone turnover markers levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Poorer vitamin D status was observed in Ethiopian women might be one of the important factors related to lower BMD in this group.
Institute of Allergy, Clinical Immunology & AIDS, Rambam Health Care Campus Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
Eduardo
E
Shahar
Elena
E
Segal
Geila S
GS
Rozen
Zila
Z
Shen-Orr
Gamal
G
Hassoun
Eynat
E
Kedem
Shimon
S
Pollack
Sophia
S
Ish-Shalom
D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003020:Clothing; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000208:ethnology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D013472:Sunlight; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D044465:White People
D015415:Biomarkers; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; D002112:Calcifediol