title: Optimal vitamin D plasma levels are associated with lower bacterial DNA translocation in HIV/hepatitis c virus coinfected patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin D has been linked to the immune response modulation and the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier. Therefore, vitamin D might be involved in bacterial translocation related to HIV infection. Our major aim was to analyze the association between plasma levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] and bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA (bactDNA) in 120 HIV/hepatitis c virus (HCV) coinfected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma 25(OH)D levels were quantified by enzyme immunoassay. The vitamin D status was defined as deficient (<25 nmol/l), insufficient (25-74 nmol/l), and optimal (≥75 nmol/l) plasma levels. Plasma bactDNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. For bactDNA levels the cutoffs used were as follows: low [<p25th (46 copies/μl)], moderate [p25th to p50th (78 copies/μl)], high [p50th to p75th (159 copies/μl)], and very high (>p75th).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen (15%) patients had 25(OH)D deficiency, 93 (77.5%) had insufficiency and nine (7.5%) had 25(OH)D optimal values. The bactDNA levels were lower in patients with 25(OH)D at least 75 nmol/l [37 copies/μl] than in patients with 25(OH)D insufficiency [84.2 copies/μl; P = 0.042]. Conversely, low bactDNA levels (<p25th) were found in 66.7% of patients with 25(OH)D optimal levels, whereas bactDNA levels above p25th were found only in 11.1% of them (P = 0.029). The plasma 25(OH)D not less than 75 nmol/l was associated with low bactDNA levels (<p25th) [adjusted OR = 8.13 (95% confidence interval = 1.82; 36.67); P = 0.006)]. The patients with optimal vitamin D status [25(OH)D ≥75 nmol/l] had lower plasma levels of CCL7 (P = 0.047) and basic fibroblast growth factor (P = 0.042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The optimal vitamin D status was associated with low bacterial translocation and inflammation in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.
authors.affiliation: aUnit of Viral Infection and Immunity, National Centre of Microbiology. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda,bInfectious Diseases-HIV Unit, Hospital General Universitario 'Gregorio Marañón'cHealth Research Institute 'Gregorio Marañón', Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-Álvarez
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berenguer
authors.forename: Maria Ángeles
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Sousa
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Morón
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carrero
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Rivas
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aldámiz-Echevarría
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: García-Broncano
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Resino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D060085:Coinfection / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D