Serum antioxidant vitamins and minerals among HIV-positive haart-naive patients at different stages of cd4+ cell counts in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Abstract

: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) belongs to retrovirus family. Infection with HIV induces chronic oxidative stress resulting from excessive production of free radicals. The
excessive amounts of free radicals have the potential to cause oxidative damage to cells and tissues in humans. Objectives: To assess the serum levels of antioxidant vitamins and minerals in + HIV-positive HAART-naive patients at different stages of CD cell counts and controls in Sokoto, 4 Nigeria. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 96 HIV-positive HAART-naive + patients and 32 age- and sex- matched HIV-negative controls. Plasma levels of CD cell counts 4 were assessed using Flow Cytometry while serum antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E) and minerals (Cu, Fe and Zn) were assessed using Spectrophotometry and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry respectively. The HIV-positive HAART-naive patients were divided into + three groups based on CD count. Results: Majority of the HIV-infected patients in the study 4 population were married (70.3%) and predominantly Hausas (71.9%). Compare to the HIV negative control, the three groups of HIV-positive HAART-naïve patients have statistically different serum levels of antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E) and minerals (Cu, Fe and Zn). Also
there was statistically significant difference in the serum levels of antioxidants vitamins (A, C and E) and minerals (Cu, Zn and Fe) between males and females in both the HIV-positive HAARTnaïve patients and the controls. Conclusion: The serum levels of antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E) and minerals (Cu, Fe and Zn) were significantly different between HIV-positive HAART-naive patients and HIV negative control.