Micronutrients, Metabolic Complications, and Inflammation in Ugandan Children With HIV

Background: Selenium, zinc, and chromium are essential micronutrients. Their alterations have been associated with HIV disease progression, metabolic complications, and mortality. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in children with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV, n = 57), HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU, n = 59), and HIV-unexposed uninfected (HIV−, n = 56) children aged 2 to 10 years old, age- and sex-matched, enrolled in Uganda. PHIV were on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) with undetectable viral load. We measured plasma concentrations of selenium, zinc, and chromium as well as markers of systemic inflammation, monocyte activation, and gut integrity. Results: Among PHIV children, 93% had viral load ≤20 copies/mL, median CD4 was 37%, and 77% were receiving a nonnucleotide reserve transcriptase regimen. Median age of all participants was 8 years and 55% were girls. Median selenium concentrations were higher in PHIV compared with the HEU and HIV groups (P 
Source: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition - Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original Articles: Nutrition Source Type: research