Vitamin, trace element and peroxide status in HIV seropositive patients : asymptomatic patients present a severe β-carotene deficiency

Abstract We have investigated whether nutritional status and peroxidation process are associated with the degree of development of HIV infection. This was done by measuring the status of vitamins (E, A and β-carotene), of antioxidant trace elements (zinc, selenium) and lipid peroxide levels (lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid reactants) in HIV-seropositive patients at CDC II and CDC IV stages and in comparison with normal subjects. There was a decrease in vitamin and trace element levels related to the severity of disease. The most dramatic decrease, however, was seen for carotenoids (0.94 ± 0.46 μ mol/l vs. 1.79 ± 0.40 μmol/l) and β-carotene (0.24 ± 0.14 μ mol/l vs. 0.56 ± 0.29 μ mol/l) whose stage II levels were only half the normal value. Paradoxically, lipid peroxidation was higher at stage II than at stage IV. This can be attributed to an overproduction of oxygen radicals by polymorphonuclears in stage II. This deficiency in antioxidant status, often found in patients suffering from peroxidative diseases, may have important consequences on cellular immunity. Furthermore, the concomitant overproduction of free radicals may also affect HIV multiplication.