Short communication: High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected pregnant women

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2013 Sep;29(9):1224-8. doi: 10.1089/aid.2012.0384. Epub 2013 Jun 15.

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is common in HIV-infected populations. In resource-limited settings, vitamin D deficiency has been shown to affect HIV disease progression and mortality in pregnant women, and also increases mother-to-child HIV transmission and mortality in their infants. This study sought to investigate vitamin D status in HIV-infected women compared to healthy controls in a high-income country setting and determine variables associated with vitamin D deficiency. We prospectively enrolled 40 women/infant pairs (16 HIV-infected women/HIV-exposed infant pairs and 24 uninfected/unexposed pairs). In serum cord blood, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were suboptimal (<30 ng/ml) in 100% of subjects from both groups. White race, non-Hispanic ethnicity was the only variable associated with higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations. This high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, especially among HIV-infected women and their infants, deserves further investigation, as it may have a negative impact on maternal and infant health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Female
  • Fetal Blood
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / blood
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D