Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and relationship with cardiac biomarkers, inflammation and immune restoration in HIV-infected youth.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D deficiency is common in HIV-infected individuals. In adults, traditional and HIV-related factors play a role in vitamin D status, and deficiency appears to impair immune restoration and exacerbate HIV complications, like cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study sought to determine factors contributing to vitamin D status in HIV-infected youth and investigate the relationship with CVD risk, inflammation and immune restoration.


METHODS
HIV-infected subjects (1-25 years old) were enrolled prospectively along with healthy controls that were group-matched by age, sex and race. HIV data were collected for the HIV-infected group, while traditional risk factors, including vitamin D intake, sun exposure, skin pigmentation, physical activity level and body mass index (BMI) were collected for both groups. Fasting lipids, plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), and inflammation markers were measured.


RESULTS
In total, 200 HIV-infected subjects and 50 controls were enrolled. HIV group had 53% male, 95% Black and a mean age of 17.2 ±4.6 years. There was no difference in 25(OH)D between groups; 77% of HIV+ and 74% of controls had 25(OH)D<20 ng/ml. Only Fitzpatrick skin type was independently associated with 25(OH)D. No HIV variables were associated with 25(OH)D, even when HIV sub-populations were examined. Inflammation, CVD risk factors and immune restoration were not independently associated with 25(OH)D.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin D deficiency is common among HIV-infected youth. However, HIV factors, CVD risk, inflammation and immune restoration do not appear to have the same relationship with vitamin D as has been shown in adults. Supplementation trials are needed to determine if increasing 25(OH)D concentrations could better elucidate these relationships.
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. allison.ross.eckard@emory.edu
Allison Ross
AR
Eckard
Suzanne E
SE
Judd
Thomas R
TR
Ziegler
Andres F
AF
Camacho-Gonzalez
Anne M
AM
Fitzpatrick
Graham R
GR
Hadley
Ruth E
RE
Grossmann
LaTeshia
L
Seaton
Shabnam
S
Seydafkan
Mark J
MJ
Mulligan
Nayoka
N
Rimann
Vin
V
Tangpricha
Grace A
GA
McComsey
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D