title: Low plasma zinc levels and immunological responses to zinc supplementation in HIV-infected patients with immunological discordance after antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: Immunological discordance in HIV-infected patients is associated with a higher risk of mortality and disease progression. Zinc is an essential micronutrient for immune function. A two-phase pilot study including a cross-sectional study to determine plasma zinc levels and a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to determine immunological responses after zinc supplementation was conducted in HIV-infected patients with immunological discordance in a medical school hospital. Immunological discordance was defined in patients who received antiretroviral therapy, had HIV RNA < 40 copies/mL, and a CD4(+) cell count < 200 cells/mm(3) that increased <30% from baseline after receiving ART with undetectable HIV RNA for 12 months. Of 31 patients, 12 (39%) had low plasma zinc levels (<75 μg/dL). Five of 12 patients with low plasma zinc levels and 8 of 19 patients with normal plasma zinc levels were randomized to receive zinc supplementation. The median changes in plasma zinc levels after supplementation versus placebo in patients with low plasma zinc levels were 29 versus 4.5 μg/dL, respectively. The CD4(+) cell count significantly increased (176 versus 250 cells/mm(3), P = 0.042) after zinc supplementation in patients with low plasma zinc levels. Further large-scale studies to determine long-term benefits of zinc supplementation in patients with immunological discordance are required.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.
authors.forename: Nakhon
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asdamongkol
authors.forename: Pariya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Phanachet
authors.forename: Somnuek
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sungkanuparph
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc