Comparative analysis of micronutrients status of HIV infected and HIV non- infected subjects attending three selected hospitals in Kano Metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Comparative studies on serum levels of micronutrients (iron, iodine, Vitamin A and β – carotene) were carried out among HIV negative and people living with HIV and AIDS attending three hospitals in Kano, namely Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Infectious Diseases Hospital. HIV infection was confirmed using indirect solid phase enzyme immunoassay technique of Immunocomb II HIV 1 and 2 Bi spot kits. Serum micronutrients levels of 270 subjects were detected using colorimetric and spectrophotometric techniques. Results obtained showed that serum vitamin A and β-carotene concentrations decrease with increase in age and were higher in males than females. The mean serum concentrations (in µg/dl) of iron, iodine, vitamin A and β- carotene were found to be 99, 1.53, 39.4, 45.98 for HIV negative subjects; 62.6, 1.54, 20.16, 19.2 for HIV positive subjects and 28.8, 0.9, 16.1 and 18.0 for AIDS subjects respectively. Deficiency of iron, vitamin A and β-carotene were found to be more common among people living with HIV and AIDS when compared with HIV negative subjects at 5% level of significance with AIDS patients having the lowest value (p<0.05). This could be due to malabsorption, altered metabolism, reduced food intake and/or infection in HIV infected persons. Iodine level of these patients was found to be normal (1.54 and 0.9 µg/dl). The results imply that HIV infection affects the serum levels of iron, vitamin A and β-carotene by reducing their levels; hence, dietary supplementation with them could be useful in maintaining good health in HIV infected subjects and reducing mortality.

Key words- AIDS, HIV, Kano, Micronutrients, Serum.