Serum vitamin A concentrations in a North American cohort of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected children

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency is associated with increased risks of vertical transmission of HIV-1 (HIV) and of disease progression and mortality among HIV-infected adults. The objectives of the study were to describe serum vitamin A concentrations among HIV-infected children in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development IVIG Clinical Trial, to examine changes in vitamin A concentrations and to investigate the relationships between vitamin A concentrations and morbidity and mortality. Blood was collected from children at baseline and at 3-month intervals throughout the study. Serum samples were stored at -70 degrees C at a central repository until retrieved for vitamin A assay. Samples were hexane-extracted and assayed by high performance liquid chromatography. The rate of change in vitamin A concentrations, calculated by fitting a linear regression model, was expressed as micrograms/dl/year. The median vitamin A concentration at baseline (n = 207 children) was 31.0 microg/dl [range, undetectable (< 10 microg/dl) to 98 microg/dl]. The rate of change in vitamin A concentrations (n = 180 children) did not vary significantly by any factor other than baseline vitamin A concentration. Baseline vitamin A concentration was not associated with morbidity (incidence of infections, growth failure, CD4+ percent decline below 15%, increases in serum HIV RNA concentrations above either 10(5) or 10(6) copies/ml or acute care hospitalization). Neither baseline vitamin A concentration nor the rate of change of vitamin A concentrations was associated with mortality. Among these North American children with relatively normal vitamin A concentrations, vitamin A was not observed to be associated with morbidity or mortality.