Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and relationship with cardiac biomarkers, inflammation and immune restoration in HIV-infected youth

• Published in: Antiviral therapy Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 1069 - 1078
• Main Authors: ECKARD, Allison Ross, JUDD, Suzanne E, RIMANN, Nayoka, TANGPRICHA, Vin, MCCOMSEY, Grace A, ZIEGLER, Thomas R, CAMACHO-GONZALEZ, Andres F, FITZPATRICK, Anne M, HADLEY, Graham R, GROSSMANN, Ruth E, SEATON, Lateshia, SEYDAFKAN, Shabnam, MULLIGAN, Mark J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London International Medical Press 01.01.2012
• Subjects: Adolescent; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiviral agents; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - pathology; Case-Control Studies; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cytokines - blood; Female; HIV - genetics; HIV - pathogenicity; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV Infections - metabolism; HIV Infections - virology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Infectious diseases; Inflammation - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Motor Activity; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; RNA, Viral - analysis; Sunlight; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Vitamin D - analogs & derivatives; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - metabolism; Vitamin D Deficiency - pathology; Young Adult; Infection; Heart; Immunopathology; Viral disease; Nutrition disorder; Risk factor; Immune reconstitution; Biological marker; AIDS; Inflammation; Immune deficiency; Nutritional status
• DOI: 10.3851/IMP2318
• ISSN: 1359-6535

Vitamin D deficiency is common in HIV-infected individuals. In adults, traditional and HIV-related factors play a role in vitamin D status, and deficiency appears to impair immune restoration and exacerbate HIV complications, like cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study sought to determine factors contributing to vitamin D status in HIV-infected youth and investigate the relationship with CVD risk, inflammation and immune restoration. HIV-infected subjects (1-25 years old) were enrolled prospectively along with healthy controls that were group-matched by age, sex and race. HIV data were collected for the HIV-infected group, while traditional risk factors, including vitamin D intake, sun exposure, skin pigmentation, physical activity level and body mass index (BMI) were collected for both groups. Fasting lipids, plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), and inflammation markers were measured. In total, 200 HIV-infected subjects and 50 controls were enrolled. HIV group had 53% male, 95% Black and a mean age of 17.2 ±4.6 years. There was no difference in 25(OH)D between groups; 77% of HIV+ and 74% of controls had 25(OH)D<20 ng/ml. Only Fitzpatrick skin type was independently associated with 25(OH)D. No HIV variables were associated with 25(OH)D, even when HIV sub-populations were examined. Inflammation, CVD risk factors and immune restoration were not independently associated with 25(OH)D. Vitamin D deficiency is common among HIV-infected youth. However, HIV factors, CVD risk, inflammation and immune restoration do not appear to have the same relationship with vitamin D as has been shown in adults. Supplementation trials are needed to determine if increasing 25(OH)D concentrations could better elucidate these relationships.