FATTY-ACIDS AND PLASMA ANTIOXIDANTS IN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS - CORRELATION WITH NUTRITIONAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL STATUS

Objective: To investigate red blood cell (RBC) and plasma fatty acids (FA) in HIV-positive patients in relation to oxidative stress and nutr itional or immunological status. Design and Methods: FA, plasma seleni um, vitamins A and E were measured in 95 patients divided into four gr oups according to CD4 cells. Results: Poly- and di-unsaturated FA (PUF A, DUFA) decreased and saturated FA (SFA) increased in RBC in the pati ents below 400/mm(3) and in plasma in the patients below 50/mm(3). RBC SFA correlated to CD4 cells, PUFA to MDA. Unlike vitamin E, plasma vi tamin A and selenium decreased in most groups. Plasma SFA and MUFA cor related negatively to selenium and PUFA and DUFA to vitamin E. No corr elation was found between PUFA and nutritional markers. Conclusion: FA seem to be modified during HIV infection by oxidative stress and dise ase evolution, but not by denutrition.