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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #248407
Title: Factors associated with serum retinol, x-tocopherol, carotenoids, and selenium in Hispanics with problems of HIV, chornis hepatitis, chronic hepatitis C, and drug use

Author
item FORRESTER, JANET - Tufts University
item WANG, XIANG-DONG - Tufts University
item KNOX, TAMSIN - Tufts University
item BOREK, CARMIA - Tufts University
item TANG, ALICE - Tufts University
item JOHNSON, ELIZABETH - Tufts University

Submitted to: Journal of Public Health Policy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2009
Publication Date: 9/20/2009
Citation: Forrester, J., Wang, X., Knox, T., Borek, C., Tang, A., Johnson, E. 2009. Factors associated with serum retinol, x-tocopherol, carotenoids, and selenium in Hispanics with problems of HIV, chornis hepatitis, chronic hepatitis C, and drug use. Journal of Public Health Policy. 30(3):285-299.

Interpretive Summary: The effects of hepatitis and drug use on nutritional problems in HIV infection have rarely been examined despite the importance of drug use in the global HIV pandemic. We examined the effects of HIV, hepatitis C, and drug use in 300 US Hispanic adults. Chronic hepatitis C infection was associated with lower levels of vitamin A, vitamin E and carotenoids which serve as antioxidants. HIV infection was associated with lower selenium, which is a mineral acting as an antioxidant; needed for proper immune and heart functions. HIV infection was also associated with elevated triglycerides, which are fats that circulate in the bloodstream. High levels of triglycerides often appear with other well-known risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood cholesterol and diabetes. Drug use was not independently associated with micronutrient alterations. We conclude that hepatitis C is an important determinant of low serum micronutrients, and should be considered in any nutritional assessment of HIV infected populations. As the safety of micronutrient supplementation is not established, policy for appropriate HIV clinical care should distinguish between populations with and without hepatitis coinfection.

Technical Abstract: The effects of hepatitis and drug use on nutritional problems in HIV infection have rarely been examined despite the importance of drug use in the global HIV pandemic. We examined the effects of HIV, hepatitis C, and drug use on serum micronutrients in 300 US Hispanic adults. Chronic hepatitis C infection was associated with lower serum retinol (_8.2 mg/dl, Po0.0001), a-tocopherol (_0.10 ln mg/dl, P¼0.024), and carotenoids (_19.8 mg/dl, Po0.0001). HIV infection was associated with lower selenium (_6.1 mg/l,P¼0.028). Elevated triglycerides in HIV infection were associated with higher serum retinol and a-tocopherol. Drug use was not independently associated with micronutrient alterations. We conclude that hepatitis C is an important determinant of low serum micronutrients, and should be considered in any nutritional assessment of HIV infected populations. As the safety of micronutrient supplementation is not established, policy for appropriate HIV clinical care should distinguish between populations with and without hepatitis co-infection.