SERUM ZINC LEVELS IN HIV POSITIVE CHILDREN SEEN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA TEACHING HOSPITAL, ENUGU

Abstract

Zinc deficiency is prevalent in low income countries and is implicated in childhood deaths
and increased burden of disease in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Zinc deficiency on its own
can result in a number of effects including impaired immunity. HIV is associated with
micronutrient deficiencies both in children and adults.
Studies have demonstrated a faster disease progression, accentuated HIV related morbidities
and mortality in some individuals with HIV. Pronounced Zinc deficiency may be responsible
for these.
This cross-sectional study sought to determine the serum zinc levels and to know its
relationship, if any, with the CD4% in asymptomatic HIV infected children aged 5-60 months
attending the Paediatric HIV clinic in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH),
Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu.
Serum zinc levels of 100 asymptomatic HIV infected children aged 5-60 months were
compared with 100 apparently healthy HIV uninfected controls (matched for age and sex),
seen at the Paediatric out-patient clinic of UNTH, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu. Information on the
biodata, medical history, anthropometry, were obtained and serum zinc was analyzed using
the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer for the subjects and controls as relevant. CD4%
was determined using the Partec® Cyflow Counter. The HIV infected children were found to
have a median serum zinc level of 55.5µg/dl while the uninfected HIV controls had a median
serum zinc level of 83.3µg/dl. The difference between the two median results was statistically
significant, p = 0.001, OR=7.319, 95% CI.
Low serum zinc levels was seen more in HIV positive subjects (72%), compared with the HIV
negative controls (26%), p< 0.001, OR = 7.319, 95% CI.
The HIV infected subjects had a median CD4% of 27.3. No significant relationship was found
between serum zinc levels and CD4% (p = 0.557, r = 0.061).
The study concludes that the serum zinc levels of asymptomatic HIV positive children is
significantly lower than that of their HIV negative counterparts but this has no significant
association with the CD4%.
The study therefore confirms low levels of serum zinc among HIV positive children.

SERUM ZINC LEVELS IN HIV POSITIVE CHILDREN SEEN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA TEACHING HOSPITAL, ENUGU