Nutritional assessment of vitamin E in malnourished patients with AIDS

Malnourished patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) may ha ve low serum levels and reduced intake of alpha-tocopherol, mainly in the p resence of acute-phase response. The aims of this study were to compare int ake and serum levels of alpha-tocopherol between malnourished (MN) and nonm alnourished (NMN) AIDS patients and to correlate alpha-tocopherol intake an d serum levels. Undernutrition was defined as having a body mass index lowe r than 18.5 kg/m(2) or a height-creatinine index lower than 70%. A semiquan titative food frequency questionnaire assessed alpha-tocopherol intake. Hig h-performance liquid chromatography determined vitamin serum levels. The pa tients were divided into MN (n = 14) and NMN (n = 15) groups. There were no statistical differences in relation to clinical findings between MN and NM N, respectively, including moniliasis (7/14 versus 4/15), neurocryptoccocos is and neurotoxoplasmosis (6/14 versus 6/15), pulmonary tuberculosis (4/14 versus 2/15), and fever (1/14 versus 3/15). MN and NMN groups had similar p eripheral blood CD4 levels (111.4 +/- 87.1 versus 124.4 +/- 90.9 cells/mm(3 )), and both groups had similar and adequate alpha-tocopherol intake (MN = 50.0 +/- 11.0 versus NMN = 47.2 +/- 16.5 mg) and serum levels (MN = 17.8 +/ - 7.2 versus NMN = 19.8 +/- 6.3 mu mol/L). Vitamin E intake and serum level s did not show a significant correlation (r = -0.22, P > 0.05). Protein-ene rgy nutrition status and acute-phase response were not factors determining vitamin status among AIDS patients. (C)Elsevier Science Inc. 2000.