Zinc deficiency
is prevalent among people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH).
This may be due to the preferential use of zinc by human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) for viral replication, altered zinc metabolism and/or inadequate dietary
zinc intake. Low plasma zinc levels directly affect the immune system because
zinc is an important co-factor in the maturation of CD4 cells, which are part of
the T-cell system of the immune system. In addition, zinc is important for many
catalytic enzymatic activity and protein/DNA synthesis. Due to its importance
and pervasiveness in all tissues, zinc deficiency has many adverse effects such
as impairing the reconstitution of the immune function in PLWH.
In 1996,
antiretroviral therapy (ART) was first used to successfully control the HIV
viral load and become the standard of
treatment for HIV. The treatment, however, has been associated with hyperglycemia
and type 2 diabetes. As a result, PLWH are at a higher risk of developing type
2 diabetes and subsequently cardiovascular disease after initiation of ART. While
HIV infection is associated with numerous micronutrient deficiencies, ART has
been shown to normalize plasma levels of some micronutrients after initiation.
However, micronutrients such as zinc, selenium and vitamin A have not been
shown to increase after ART initiation. Read more...................
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