Positive Health Online

Abstract

MEHENDALE and colleagues, National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, India. sanjaymehendale@yahoo.com studied the association between low carotenoid concentration and risk of HIV seroconversion .

Background

Low vitamin A and carotenoid levels could increase the risk of sexual HIV acquisition by altering the epithelium of the genitals or through immune dysfunction(s).

Methodology

The authors measured serum vitamin A and carotenoid levels in patients at risk of subsequent HIV infection. They conducted a nested case-control study with individuals attending two sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in Pune India. Serum micronutrient levels were measured in 44 cases (11 women and 33 men) with documented HIV seroconversion and in STD patients matched for gender and length of follow-up, with no subsequent HIV seroconversion (controls).

Results

STD patients in Pune had low vitamin A and carotenoid levels, and low serum beta-carotene levels were independently associated with an increased risk of subsequent HIV seroconversion . STD patients with beta-carotene levels less than 0.075 micromol/L were 21 times more likely to acquire HIV infection than those with higher levels (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 21.2; p = 0.01). There was no such association observed in case of other non-provitamin A carotenoids.

Conclusion

There appears to be an association between low vitamin A and beta-carotene levels and subsequent HIV seroconversion. This study reports the first evidence of such an association and an increased risk for heterosexual HIV acquisition in STD patients in Pune, India.

References

Mehendale SM et al. Low carotenoid concentration and the risk of HIV seroconversion in Pune, India. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 26 (4): 352-9. 1 Apr 2001.

Comment

There are possibly tens of millions of people currently as risk of contracting or dying from AIDS in Africa and many developing nations. The scandal of the lack of effective treatments other than retroviral pharmaceuticals will be a deep stain when the history of the late twentieth century is told, as many research projects attempting to develop potential natural treatments – homeopathy, electromagnetic, herbal, gem, nutritional – which were being explored during the late 1980s were either starved of funding or closed down outright. The above study shows clearly and simply that people with low vitamin A and beta-carotene levels are at 21-fold (2100%) greater risk of acquiring HIV infection! Surely this result can lead to nutritional programmes which may be a start to saving lives.