[Relation among micronutrient intakes with CD4 count in HIV infected patients]

The impact of micronutrients on HIV disease progression has been an area of great interest. Several studies have shown an association between disease progression and micronutrient status. The aim of our study was to assess the correlation between micronutrients intakes and immune status in HIV infected patients.

A total of 119 patients were evaluated. Nobody dropped out. In all patients the following parameters were assessed; age, sex, treatment with anti-retroviral drugs, performed an anthropometric evaluation (weight, tricipital skinfold, midarm circumference, and body mass index (BMI)) and a biochemical evaluation (glucose, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, total proteins, limphocytes and count of CD4). All patients received instruction in 24-hour written food record keeping.

Patients had an average age 37.9 +/- 9.9 years, weight 64.5 +/- 13.2 kg and body mass index 22.5 +/- 3.5. Levels of total proteins, albumin, prealbumin y transferrin were normal. Percentile distribution of anthropometric parameters showed a deep depletion in muscular protein compartiment, 53.1% of patients had tricipital skinfold under P 50, 91.8% had midarm muscle circumference under P 50. The correlation analysis among dietary intake and immune status, showed a positive association among vitamin A intake and vitamin D with CD4+ (r = 0.35; p < 0.01) and (r = 0.51; p < 0.001), respectively. In the multivariant analysis with dependent variable (CD4 count), only vitamin D remained in the model (F = 16.99; p < 0.001), with an increase of 34 (CI 95%: 5.81-167.3) CD4+ (count/uL) with each microgram of vitamin D intake, adjusted by age, sex, energy and protein intake, and anti-retroviral drugs.

Vitamin A, and D intakes were correlated with CD4 count, only vitamin D remained as a independent predictor parameter in a in multivariant model.