Assessment of Some Micronutrients and Vitamins of HIV Positive Patients in South-South Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection continues to be a serious health issue in most parts of the world, with a global prevalence of 0.7% among adults, the majority being in developing countries with limited healthcare resources. Objective: The objectives of this study was to determine the Iron, calcium, zinc, copper, Vitamins D and B12 of HIV positive subjects compared with the control, with respect to gender, age and with respect to duration of treatment. Materials: A total of fifty (50) HIV-positive subjects and fifty (50) HIV-negative subjects (control) were used in this study. Zinc, iron and calcium were evaluated using atomic absorption spectrophotometer, Vitamins D and B12 was done using ELISA, while calcium was estimated using O-cresolphthalein complexone method. The results were presented in tables and chart as mean ± standard deviation. Statistical analysis was done using one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Student’s t-test using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Among the study population, 23 (46.0%) were males and 27 (54.0%) were females. With respect to age, 29 (58.0%) were aged 20 – 40 years, while 21 (42.0%) were aged 41 years and above. Based on treatment period, 28 (56.0%) were less than one year, while 22 (44.0%) were more than one year. Among the control subjects, 32 (64.0%) were males and 18 (36.0%) were females. With respect to age, 24 (48.0%) belonged to age group 20 – 40 years, while 26 (52.0%) belonged to age group 41 years and above. The results obtained showed that Calcium, zinc, copper, Iron, Vitamins B12 and D were significantly lower in HIV positive subjects compared with control (p<0.05). Calcium, Iron, Vitamins B12 and D were significantly lower (p<0.05) in age group 41 years and above in comparison with age group 20 – 40 years. Calcium, Iron, Vitamins B12 and D were significantly (p<0.05) higher in HIV positive subjects undergoing treatment for over a year compared with those undergoing treatment for less than one year. There was a significant positive correlation between Calcium and Iron (r=0.840, p=0.000), Calcium and Vitamin B12 (r=0.744, p=0.000), Calcium and Vitamin D (r=0.825, p=0.000), Iron and Vitamin B12 (r=0.743, p=0.000), Iron and Vitamin D (r=0.765, p=0.000) and Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D (r=0.562, p=0.000). Conclusion: The study concludes that the decrease in vitamins and micronutrients that accompanies HIV infection suggests a potentially important role of nutritional supplementation and good nutrition in the proper management of HIV/AIDS.