EFFECTS OF MICRONUTRIENTS SUPPLEMENTATION ON ANTIOXIDANT VITAMINS AND MINERALS IN HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV)-POSITIVE SUBJECTS IN SOKOTO, NIGERIA

Yeldu, M.H.*, Das, S.C., Mainasara, A.S., Bilbis, L.S., Saidu, Y., Njoku, C.H.

ABSTRACT

Background: HIV/AIDS patients are under chronic oxidative stress and may play a critical role in chronic complications of HIV/AIDS. Micronutrients may play an important role in the improvement of the disease and in the management of HIV/AIDS patients. Objectives: The current study is aimed at evaluating the effects of micronutrient supplementation on antioxidant vitamins and minerals in 210 HIV-positive adult patients attending Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Participants were recruited in the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Clinic, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto. Serum concentrations of antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E), were measured by standard laboratory techniques, while antioxidant mineral elements, Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn) and Selenium (Se) were measured by atomic absorption Spectrophotometry. Results: The results showed that, serum concentrations of antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E) and antioxidant mineral elements (Cu, Zn, Mn and Se) in HIV-positive HAART-naïve and HIV-positive patients on HAART were significantly (p<0.001) lower than the corresponding values among the age- and sex–matched controls at baseline. Mean serum concentrations of antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E) and antioxidant minerals (Cu, Zn, Mn and Se) increased significantly (p<0.001), in HIV-positive HAART-naïve and HIV-positive patients on HAART that received micronutrients supplement respectively compared to unsupplemented groups. Conclusion: The results in the current study demonstrates that, lower serum concentrations of antioxidant vitamins and minerals observed in HIV-positive HAART-naïve patients and HIV-positive on HAART patients at baseline were reversed on micronutrients supplementation of the subjects.

Keywords: Antioxidants, Micronutrients Supplementation, HIV, Nigeria.