VITAMIN-B12 AND FOLATE STATUS IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

Vitamin B-12 and folate status were determined in 35 male HIV seroposi tive patients. Of these, 16 were asymptomatic (CDC II/III) and 19 were symptomatic (CDC IV) according to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC ) Classification. Deviations from normal values for serum B-12, serum folate and red cell folate were not a common finding in this sample of patients. No patient had low serum B-12. One CDC IV patient and two C DC II/III patients were found to have raised serum B-12. Dietary intak e of vitamin B-12 was well above the Reference Nutrient Intake for all patients. Three patients displayed low folate values (one CDC IV pati ent had low serum folate, one had low red cell folate and one CDC II/I II patient had both). No patient displayed elevated serum or red cell folate. Only 56% of the CDC II/III and 36% of the CDC IV group were me eting the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake for folate. The only signifi cant difference between the CDC II/III group and the CDC IV group was a lower red cell folate (although within the normal laboratory range) in the CDC IV group. There was no significant difference in dietary in take and haematological status between the drug users and the homosexu als.