T. BunupuradahS. UbolyamR. HansudewechakulP. KosalaraksaC. NgampiyaskulS. KanjanavanitJ. WongsawatW. LuesomboonS. PinyakornS. KerrJ. AnanworanichS. ChomthoJ. Van Der LugtN. LuplertlopK. RuxrungthamT. PuthanakitThe HIV Netherlands Australia Thailand Research CollaborationChiangrai Prachanukroh HospitalKhon Kaen UniversityPrapokklao HospitalNakornping HospitalBamrasnaradura Infectious Disease InstituteQueen Savang Vadhana Memorial HospitalUniversity of New South Wales (UNSW) AustraliaChulalongkorn UniversitySEARCHMahidol University2018-06-112018-06-112012-08-01European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vol.66, No.8 (2012), 900-90514765640095430072-s2.0-84864849980https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/14725Background/Objectives:Deficiencies in antioxidants contribute to immune dysregulation and viral replication. To evaluate the correlation of selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) levels on the treatment outcomes in HIV-infected children.Subjects/Methods:HIV-infected Thai children 1-12 years old, CD4 15-24%, without severe HIV symptoms were included. Se and Zn levels were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry at baseline and 48 weeks. Deficiency cutoffs were Se 0.1 mol/l and Zn 9.9 mol/l. Serum ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured every 24 weeks. No micronutrient supplement was prescribed.Results:In all, 141 children (38.3% male) with a median (interquartile range (IQR)) age of 7.3 (4.2-9.0) years were enrolled. Median baseline CD4% was 20%, HIV-RNA was 4.6 log 10 copies/ml. At baseline, median (IQR) Se and Zn levels were 0.9 (0.7-1.0) mol/l and 5.9 (4.8-6.9) mol/l, respectively. None had Se deficiency while all had Zn deficiency. Over 48 weeks, 97 initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 81% achieved HIV-RNA 50 copies/ml with 11% median CD4 gain. The mean change of Se was 0.06 mol/l (P0.003) and Zn was 0.42 mol/l (P0.003), respectively. By multivariate analysis in children who received ART, predictors for greater increase of CD4% from baseline were lower baseline CD4% (P0.01) and higher baseline Zn level (P0.02). The predictors for greater decrease of HIV-RNA from baseline were higher baseline HIV-RNA and higher ferritin (both P0.01). No association of CRP with the changes from baseline of CD4% or HIV-RNA was found.Conclusion:In HIV-infected Thai children without severe immune deficiency who commenced ART, no correlation between Se and ART treatment outcomes was found. Higher pre-ART Zn levels were associated with significant increases in CD4% at 48 weeks. © 2012 Macmillan Publishers Limited.Mahidol UniversityMedicineNursingArticleSCOPUS10.1038/ejcn.2012.57