Serum Zinc and Hemoglobin Concentrations in Persons with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: The Positive Living with HIV (POLH) Study

Abstract

BackgroundHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection has been frequently associated with zinc deficiency and anemia. Zinc deficiency can cause significant impairment in both adaptive and innate immune responses that may cause systemic inflammation and leading to anemia. However, research on the role of zinc in anemia among HIV‐infected persons is limited. We assessed the association between serum zinc and hemoglobin concentrations in a cohort of HIV‐infected persons.MethodsA cross‐sectional survey was conducted among 311 HIV‐positive people (177 men and 134 women) aged 20 to 60 years residing in Kathmandu, Nepal. Anthropometric and blood pressure examinations were performed and information on medical history, food habits, physical exercise, alcohol, smoking, and types/duration of anti‐retroviral therapy were collected. Fasting blood samples were taken for immunological, lipids, glucose, inflammation, and micronutrient markers evaluations. Serum zinc concentrations were measured by the atomic absorption method. The relationship between serum zinc and hemoglobin concentrations were assessed using multiple linear regression analysis with adjustment for potential cardiovascular, life‐style, and HIV‐related clinical confounding factors.ResultsThe means of serum zinc concentrations in men and women were 75.62 (16.27) μg/dL and 72.63 (10.05) μg/dL, respectively and of hemoglobin concentrations were 12.92 g/dL (2.24) and 11.71 g/dL (2.21), respectively. Serum zinc concentrations were positively associated with hemoglobin concentrations (β = 0.02; P = 0.016) in total participants. The relationship remained significant only in men (β = 0.02; P = 0.006) but not in women (β = −0.007; P = 0.719).ConclusionSerum zinc concentrations were positively associated with hemoglobin concentrations in HIV‐infected persons. Further prospective study to confirm the role of zinc in anemia among HIV‐infected persons is warranted.Support or Funding InformationThis study was partially supported by the Grant‐in‐Aid for Young Scientists (B) (22790581), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan; Waseda University Grants for Special Research Projects, General Grant/Ippan Josei, Japan, (2012A‐101); and by the Grant for Research on Global Health and Medicine (No. 21A‐2) from the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Japan. The funding agency had no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.