Abstract
BackgroundThere is growing evidence of an association between low vitamin D and HIV disease progression; however, no prospective studies have been conducted among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsSerum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were assessed at ART initiation for a randomly selected cohort of HIV-infected adults enrolled in a trial of multivitamins (not including vitamin D) in Tanzania during 2006–2010. Participants were prospectively followed at monthly clinic visits for a median of 20.6 months. CD4 T-cell measurements were obtained every 4 months. Proportional hazard models were utilized for mortality analyses while generalized estimating equations were used for CD4 T-cell counts.ResultsSerum 25(OH)D was measured in 1103 adults 9.2% were classified as vitamin D deficient (<20 ng/ml), 43.6% insufficient (20–30 ng/mL), and 47.2% as sufficient (>30 ng/mL). After multivariate adjustment, vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with increased mortality as compared to vitamin D sufficiency (HR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.19–3.37; p = 0.009), whereas no significant association was found for vitamin D insufficiency (HR: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.87–1.78; p = 0.24). No effect modification by ART regimen or change in the associations over time was detected. Vitamin D status was not associated with change in CD4 T-cell count after ART initiation.ConclusionsDeficient vitamin D levels may lead to increased mortality in individuals receiving ART and this relationship does not appear to be due to impaired CD4 T-cell reconstitution. Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of vitamin D supplementation for individuals receiving ART.
Highlights
In 2002 only 2% of HIV-infected individuals eligible for antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan were receiving treatment, while by the end of 2010 this proportion increased to 49% with over 5 million people receiving ART [1]
Study Population This prospective cohort study consisted of randomly selected sample of HIV-infected men and women initiating ART enrolled in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of daily oral supplements of vitamins B-complex, C, and E at high versus standard levels of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) on HIV disease progression conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania during 2006–2010
A crude Kaplan-Meir curve for all-cause mortality by vitamin D status is presented in Figure 1 showing that at 24 months post ART initiation 22.8% of the individuals with deficient vitamin D levels died as compared to 14.1% and 13.1% of individuals with insufficient and deficient levels of vitamin D, respectively
Summary
In 2002 only 2% of HIV-infected individuals eligible for antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan were receiving treatment, while by the end of 2010 this proportion increased to 49% with over 5 million people receiving ART [1]. Despite successes in expanding treatment coverage, individuals initiating ART in sub-Saharan Africa experience high mortality rates and interventions are needed to prolong and improve quality of life [2,3]. Vitamin D has effects on multiple organ systems and HIV-infected individuals with low levels of vitamin D could experience increased complications of ART including: cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and renal impairment [11,12,13]. There is growing evidence of an association between low vitamin D and HIV disease progression; no prospective studies have been conducted among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa
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