Abstract
BackgroundLow concentrations of serum zinc have been reported in HIV infected adults and are associated with disease progression and an increased risk of death. Few studies have been conducted in HIV infected children in Africa. We determined serum zinc levels and factors associated with zinc deficiency in HIV infected Ugandan children.MethodsWe measured the baseline zinc status of 247 children aged 1-5 years enrolled in a randomised trial for multiple micronutrient supplementation at paediatric HIV clinics in Uganda (http://ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00122941). Zinc status was determined using inductively coupled atomic emission spectrophotometry (ICP-AES). Clinical and laboratory characteristics were compared among zinc deficient (zinc < 10.0 μmol/L) and non deficient children. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of low serum zinc.ResultsOf the 247 children, 134 (54.3%) had low serum zinc (< 10.0 μmol/L). Of the 44 children on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), 13 (29.5%) had low zinc compared to 121/203 (59.6%) who were not on HAART. Overall, independent predictors of low zinc were fever (OR 2.2; 95%CI 1.1 - 4.6) and not taking HAART (OR 3.7; 95%CI 1.8 - 7.6).ConclusionAlmost two thirds of HAART naïve and a third of HAART treated HIV infected children were zinc deficient. Increased access to HAART among HIV infected children living in Uganda might reduce the prevalence of zinc deficiency.
Highlights
Low concentrations of serum zinc have been reported in HIV infected adults and are associated with disease progression and an increased risk of death
Increased access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among HIV infected children living in Uganda might reduce the prevalence of zinc deficiency
In this paper we report the magnitude of zinc deficiency and associated factors in a group of HIV infected children in Uganda
Summary
Low concentrations of serum zinc have been reported in HIV infected adults and are associated with disease progression and an increased risk of death. We determined serum zinc levels and factors associated with zinc deficiency in HIV infected Ugandan children. Zinc deficiency is wide spread in low-income countries and is responsible for 4% of childhood deaths and 1% of the burden of disease in Africa, Latin America and Asia [1]. In HIV infected adults, low serum zinc has been associated with more advanced HIV disease and increased mortality [5,6,7]. The zinc status of HIV infected children in Uganda has not been reported.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
