Vitamin D Deficiency in HIV-Infected Children.
OBJECTIVE
Improvement in life expectancy with the use of combination antiretroviral therapy has come with the recognition of the complications associated with chronic human immunodeficiency virus infection. Vitamin D has been of particular interest because of its effect on bone health and immune functions. The purpose of this study was to assess vitamin D status in children in relation to the duration and severity of their human immunodeficiency virus infection and nutritional status, as well as to determine whether there was any effect of seasonality.


METHODS
The study design was cross-sectional and all children 0 to 21 years of age were eligible to participate.


RESULTS
A total of 59 participants provided informed consent, with 54 subjects completing all study activities. Thirteen (24.1%) had sufficient vitamin D levels, 13 (24.1%) had insufficient levels, and 28 (51.9%) had deficient levels per the guidelines of the Endocrine Society. In our univariate analysis, younger age was associated with higher vitamin D levels (P= 0.030). Higher CD4 counts were associated with higher vitamin D levels (P= 0.018). A significant association between the vitamin D intake per day and vitamin D level was seen (P= 0.013). In the multivariate analysis, the best ordinal logistic regression model had the CD4 count as predictor (P< 0.005), higher CD4 counts were associated with decreased odds of vitamin D deficiency (odds ratio 0.47, 95% confidence interval 0.28-0.80).


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin D deficiency was common among the patients included in this study.
From the Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education, and Service and the Center for Health Equity and Quality Research, University of Florida, Jacksonville.
Ayesha
A
Mirza
From the Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education, and Service and the Center for Health Equity and Quality Research, University of Florida, Jacksonville.
Saran
S
Wells
From the Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education, and Service and the Center for Health Equity and Quality Research, University of Florida, Jacksonville.
Tabitha
T
Gayton
From the Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education, and Service and the Center for Health Equity and Quality Research, University of Florida, Jacksonville.
Carmen
C
Smotherman
From the Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education, and Service and the Center for Health Equity and Quality Research, University of Florida, Jacksonville.
Azeem
A
Rathore
From the Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education, and Service and the Center for Health Equity and Quality Research, University of Florida, Jacksonville.
Dale
D
Kraemer
From the Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education, and Service and the Center for Health Equity and Quality Research, University of Florida, Jacksonville.
Mobeen
M
Rathore
D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D