Vitamin E concentrations in adults with HIV/AIDS on highly active antiretroviral therapy.

HIV/AIDS patients are probably more predisposed to vitamin E deficiency, considering that they are more exposed to oxidative stress. Additionally, there are an extensive number of drugs in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens that may interfere with vitamin E concentrations. The objective of this study was to compare serum concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in 182 HIV/AIDS patients receiving different HAART regimens. The patients were divided into three groups according to regimen: nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) + non-nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs); NRTIs + protease inhibitors + ritonavir; NRTIs + other classes. Alpha-tocopherol was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the effects of HAART regimen, time of use, and compliance with the regimen on alpha-tocopherol concentrations. Alpha-tocopherol concentrations were on average 4.12 µmol/L lower for the NRTIs + other classes regimen when compared to the NRTIs + NNRTIs regimen (p = 0.037). A positive association (p < 0.001) was observed between alpha-tocopherol and cholesterol concentrations, a finding due, in part, to the relationship between liposoluble vitamins and lipid profile. This study demonstrated differences in alpha-tocopherol concentrations between patients using different HAART regimens, especially regimens involving the use of new drugs. Long-term prospective cohort studies are needed to monitor vitamin E status in HIV/AIDS patients since the beginning of treatment.

Plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid in parturients from a hospital in Southeast Brazil.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Pregnancy is a period characterized by high metabolic requirements and physiological changes in the female organism. During this period, low body stores of vitamins and minerals including antioxidants can have adverse effects on the mother and foetus. This cross-sectional study assessed plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) in 117 parturients admitted into a university hospital in São Paulo city, Brazil. METHODS: The concentrations of AA were determined by the high performance liquid chromatographic method. Data concerning socioeconomic, demographic, obstetric and nutritional characteristics of the parturients were collected by a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of AA deficiency (<22.7 micromol/L) among the parturients was 30.8%. Mean plasma AA concentrations were lower in single/divorced women (27.84+/-3.48 micromol/L) compared with married/single with partner women (34.78+/-1.85 micromol/L) (p=0.047). Blood AA concentrations were significantly correlated with per capita income (r=0.36, p<0.001) and vitamin C-rich food intake score (r=0.42, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of hypovitaminosis C detected in this study is probably due to an inadequate intake of foods rich in vitamin C and low income. We alert to the need for increasing the intake of vitamin C-rich foods through educational programs, especially for low income populations.

Relationship between nutritional and psychological status of pregnant adolescents and non-adolescents in Brazil.

This study compared the nutritional and psychological status of 855 pregnant adolescents and non-adolescents and assessed their relationships at three interviews (gestational age < or = 16 weeks, 20-26 weeks, and 30-36 weeks). The instruments used were: anthropometry, state-trait anxiety inventories (STAI), general health questionnaire (GHQ), and perceived stress scale (PSS). More adolescents were thinner, had higher scores of the trait anxiety inventory (TAI), wished to abort their children, and were worried about changes in their bodies than non-adolescents. Multiple linear regression analyses (controlling for toxic exposure, socioeconomic, demographic and obstetric factors) detected negative associations between weight gain in the first interview and distress (GHQ) for both the groups of women and weight gain in the second interview and the variable "worry about body's change" for the non-adolescent group. The negative associations between body mass index and chronic anxiety (TAI) were present in the three interviews for non-adolescents. This study detected a relationship between the nutritional and the psychological status of pregnant women, although there were more associations for non-adolescents.