Pattern of serum total calcium, magnesium and zinc in human immunodeficiency virus disease/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients of Saki-West Local Government Area of Oyo state –Nigeria

Abstract

Fifty HIV disease/AIDS seronegative subjects aged 23.6 ± 16.5years (female=25: male =25) were recruited as normal control subjects. Thirty HIV disease/AIDS seropositive patients that presented with the symptoms of AIDS especially, aged 19.2 ± 10.7years (female: 15 aged 22.0 ± 12.1 years: males = 15 aged 20.6 ± 11.3years) were used as test subjects. Serum total calcium, magnesium and zinc were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and HIV tests were carried out on each of the subjects. There was no significant gender difference in the mean values of serum total calcium, magnessium and Zinc obtained from the HIV disease/AIDS seropositive females compared with those observed in their male counterparts (p>0.05). A lower significant mean value of serum total calcium, magnesium and Zinc was observed in the HIV disease/AIDS seropositive subjects compared to the mean values of the parameters observed in the normal control subjects (p<0.05). This work has therefore been used to study the pattern of serum total calcium, magnesium and Zinc in HIV/AIDS patients of Saki West local Government area through the analysis of the stated parameters. It has been found that the study of the parameters has further contributed to the understanding of the pathophysiology and the effect of the disease condition/syndrome on the mineral/nutritional status of HIVdisease/AIDS sropositive subjects.

Key words: HIV/AIDS, Pattern, Minerals, Serum

Biokemistri Vol.17(1) 2005: 39-43