MICRONUTRIENT PROFILES IN HIV-1-INFECTED HETEROSEXUAL ADULTS

Then is compelling evidence that micronutrients can profoundly affect immunity. We surveyed vitamin supplement use and circulating concentra tions of 22 nutrients and glutathione in 64 HIV-I seropositive men and women and 33 seronegative controls participating in a study of hetero sexual HIV-I transmission. We assayed antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E; total carotenes), vitamins B-6 and B-12, folate, thiamin, niacin, biotin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, free and total choline and carni tine, biopterin. inositol, copper, zinc, selenium, and magnesium. HIV- infected patients had lower mean circulating concentrations of magnesi um (p < 0.0001), total carotenes (p = 0.009), total choline (p = 0.002 ), and glutathione (p = 0.045), and higher concentrations of niacin (p < 0.0001) than controls. Fifty-nine percent of HIV + patients had low concentrations of magnesium, compared with 9% of controls (p < 0.0001 ). These abnormal concentrations were unrelated to stage of disease. P articipants who took vitamin supplements had consistently fewer low co ncentrations of antioxidants, across HIV infection status and disease stage strata (p = 0.0006). Nevertheless, 29% of the HIV + patients tak ing supplemental vitamins had subnormal levels of one or more antioxid ants. The frequent occurrence of abnormal micronutrient nutriture, as found in these HIV + subjects, may contribute to disease pathogenesis. The low magnesium concentrations may be particularly relevant to HIV- related symptoms of fatigue, lethargy, and impaired mentation.