Malnutrition and hypovitaminosis A in AIDS patients

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 1999-03, Vol.32 (2), p.119
• Main Authors: Silveira, S A, Figueiredo, J F, Jordão Júnior, A, de Unamuno, M do R, Rodrigues M deL, Vannucchi, H
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; por
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - blood; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - complications; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Brazil; Female; HIV Seronegativity; HIV Seropositivity - blood; HIV Seropositivity - complications; HIV-1 - immunology; Humans; Liquid chromatography; Lymphocytes; Male; Malnutrition; Middle Aged; Nutrition Disorders - blood; Nutrition Disorders - etiology; Nutritional Status; Vitamin A - blood; Vitamin A Deficiency - blood; Vitamin A Deficiency - etiology
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/S0037-86821999000200001

Anthropometric measurements and biochemical determinations were performed on HIV-infected individuals and on patients with AIDS from the Ribeirão Preto region, SP, Brazil, in order to evaluate their nutritional and vitamin A status. Plasma retinol was measured by HPLC, and hepatic vitamin A stores were evaluated by the relative dose response (RDR) test. Patients with AIDS presented significant undernutrition, with more marked alterations in the body fat compartment and a relative preservation of the parameters related to muscle mass (pattern of malnutrition predominantly of the marasmus type). Plasma retinol values below 1.05 mumol/L were observed in 25% of the patients with AIDS and in 17.3% of HIV-infected patients and RDR values indicating low body stores of vitamin A were detected in 28% of the subjects. There was no correlation between serum retinol levels and CD4 lymphocyte counts, clinical diagnosis of AIDS, low BMI or AFI. On the other hand, hypovitaminosis A status was associated with low BMI.