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Zinc (Zn) deficiency and Hepatitis C (HCV)/HIV Co‐infection in HIV+ drug users in Miami
Author(s) -
Duan Rui,
Baum Marianna K,
Xue Lihua,
Sales Sabrina,
Rafie Carlin,
Page John B,
Campa Adriana
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a628-a
Subject(s) - human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , hepatitis c , virology , medicine , drug , zinc , miami , antiretroviral drug , viral load , antiretroviral therapy , pharmacology , chemistry , environmental science , organic chemistry , soil science
Objective Objective In HIV‐infection, Zn deficiency has been associated with disease progression and increased morbidity and mortality. We studied the association of HIV/HCV co‐infection with Zn deficiency and health indicators in HIV+ drug users. Methods After consenting 207 HIV+ drug users,demographic, nutritional, medical and treatment questionnaires and anthropometries were completed. Blood was drawn for CD4 cell counts, HIV viral load, and plasma Zn. Results Of the 207 participants, 37.2% were co‐infected with HCV, 72.5% were males and 63% were on HAART. Mean age was 42 years. Plasma Zn was significantly lower in the co‐infected group (0.61±0.13 mg/L, p=0.041) as compared to those who were not coinfected (0.67±0.15 mg/L) after adjusting for gender, age, macronutrient intake, and HAART. Participants with low Zn plasma (<0.65mg/L) in the co‐infected group as compared to those with higher Zn plasma had significantly greater prevalence of nutrition‐related clinical symptoms including nausea and vomiting (22.7% vs. 7.6%, p=0.007), diarrhea (36.4% vs. 21.5%, p=0.035), and significantly greater rate of hospital and ER admissions (31.8% vs. 17.7%, p=0.036). No significant differences were found in body mass index, macronutrient intake, CD4 count, viral load, or HAART between the 2 groups. Conclusions Compared to HIV infection alone, HIV/HCV coinfected drug users had lower plasma zinc, which was associated with greater rate of clinical symptoms and ER and hospital visits. The role of Zn in coinfected patients needs further research. Funded by NIDA