Effect of baseline micronutrient and inflammation status on CD4 recovery post-cART initiation in the multinational PEARLS trial

Clin Nutr. 2019 Jun;38(3):1303-1309. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2018.05.014. Epub 2018 May 29.

Abstract

Background & aims: Nutritional deficiency and inflammation may impact CD4+ T cell recovery during combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), particularly in resource-limited settings where malnutrition is prevalent. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of micronutrient and inflammation biomarkers to CD4 recovery after cART initiation.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a random sub-cohort sample (n = 270) from a multinational randomized trial of cART regimen efficacy among 1571 cART-naïve adults. We measured pre-cART serum levels of micronutrients (Vitamin A, B6, B12, D, total carotenoids, selenium, and iron) and inflammation (C-reactive protein, soluble CD14 (sCD14), IFNγ, TNFα, Interleukin-6, and C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10/IP10), EndoCab (IgM)) biomarkers. Biomarker status (i.e. micronutrient deficiency vs. sufficiency and elevated vs. low inflammation) was defined using established cutoffs or quartiles. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to determine the association of baseline (pre-cART) concentrations of individual biomarkers with CD4 recovery through 96 weeks post-cART initiation.

Results: In models adjusting for time-dependent viral load and baseline CD4 count, age, sex, body mass index, country, treatment regimen, anemia and hypoalbuminemia status, pre-cART vitamin D deficiency was associated with lower CD4 recovery (-14.9 cells/mm3, 95% CI: -27.9, -1.8) compared to sufficiency. In contrast, baseline selenium deficiency (20.8 cells/mm3, 95% CI: 3.3, 38.3), vitamin A deficiency (35.9 cells/mm3, 95% CI: 17.6, 54.3) and high sCD14 (23.4 cells/mm3, 95% CI: 8.9, 37.8) were associated with higher CD4 recovery compared to sufficient/low inflammation status.

Conclusions: In summary, baseline vitamin D deficiency was associated with diminished CD4 recovery after cART initiation; impaired CD4 recovery may contribute to the poor clinical outcomes recently observed in individuals with vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin A, selenium and sCD14 were associated with CD4 recovery but future studies are needed to further explore these relationships.

Keywords: CD4 reconstitution; CD4 recovery; HIV; Inflammation; Micronutrients; Nutrition.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections* / complications
  • HIV Infections* / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections* / immunology
  • HIV Infections* / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation* / complications
  • Inflammation* / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Malnutrition* / complications
  • Malnutrition* / physiopathology
  • Micronutrients / blood*
  • Nutritional Status / physiology
  • Selenium / blood
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin A / blood
  • Vitamin D / blood

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • Micronutrients
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin D
  • Selenium