Sistema FMUSP-HC: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) e Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSPKAIO, Daniella JunkoRONDO, Patricia Helen CarvalhoSOUZA, Jose Maria PachecoFIRMINO, Aline ValeLUZIA, Liania AlvesSEGURADO, Aluisio Augusto2014-04-252014-04-252013JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE AND VITAMINOLOGY, v.59, n.6, p.496-502, 20130301-4800https://observatorio.fm.usp.br/handle/OPI/5130Micronutrient deficiency is a common condition in HIV-infected individuals and may occur in all stages of the disease. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare the concentrations of vitamin A and beta-carotene, micronutrients related to immunity and oxidative stress, in 182 adults with HIV/AIDS, under different highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to their HAART regimen: combination of nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-NRTIs; combination of NRTIs, protease inhibitors, and ritonavir; combination of NRTIs and other classes. Multiple linear regression analysis determined the effect of the treatment regimen, time of use, and compliance with the regimen, on vitamin A and beta-carotene concentrations, controlling for the following variables: gender, age, educational level, smoking, physical activity, body mass index, time of infection with HIV, presence of comorbidities, CD4(+) T lymphocyte count, total cholesterol and fractions, and triglyceride levels. There was no significant difference in vitamin A or beta-carotene concentrations in patients under the different HAART regimens. However, approximately 4% of the patients had deficient/low concentrations of vitamin A (<0.70 mu mol/L), and 98% showed concentrations of beta-carotene <1.0 mu mol/L. In conclusion, HIV/AIDS patients in this region will not benefit from vitamin A supplementation, independently of the HAART regimen utilized, but beta-carotene may be of importance, considering its antioxidant effect.engrestrictedAccessHIV infectionHAARTvitamin Abeta-carotenemicronutrientshiv-infected patientsmicronutrient supplementationdisease progressiondrug-usersserumdeficiencyretinoltrialatherosclerosisassociationarticleCopyright CENTER ACADEMIC PUBL JAPAN10.3177/jnsv.59.496Nutrition & Dietetics1881-7742