article · PubMed
Zinc is a critical micronutrient necessary for growth and immune health, yet human immunodeficiency virus infection frequently causes zinc deficiency. A study in Lagos, Nigeria, examined the prevalence of zinc deficiency in 170 children living with the virus who were receiving antiretroviral therapy. The recruited participants were between nine months and 18 years old, having received therapy for an average of nearly eight years. Testing revealed that 69.4 percent of the children suffered from zinc deficiency. While demographic, physical, and clinical measures did not correlate with deficiency rates, children who had spent longer periods on antiretroviral therapy were significantly more likely to maintain normal zinc levels. These findings point to an ongoing micronutrient shortfall despite treatment, indicating that clinical management would benefit from regular zinc monitoring and further trials on supplementation.
Proper immune function and development in children depend heavily on zinc, an essential trace element. In regions where antiretroviral treatment is widespread, identifying persistent nutritional deficiencies is crucial for managing long-term pediatric care. Showing that zinc deficits remain common despite treatment informs healthcare providers that medical therapy alone might not resolve vital nutritional shortfalls in vulnerable populations.
This research provides clinical evidence that could inform diagnostic protocols and nutritional interventions for healthcare providers treating pediatric human immunodeficiency virus. The findings highlight a potential need for point-of-care zinc testing tools or targeted paediatric zinc supplement formulations. However, this is observational clinical research, and commercial applications remain at an early stage pending randomised controlled trials evaluating the therapeutic impact of supplementation.
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BACKGROUND: Zinc is an essential micronutrient vital for immune function and growth. HIV infection commonly leads to zinc deficiency due to increased demand, malabsorption, and reduced intake, potentially worsening disease progression. While antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves overall health, its specific impact on zinc levels in HIV-positive children, particularly in Nigeria where ART is now widespread, remains under-researched. This study aims to determine the prevalence of zinc deficiency in HIV-positive children on HAART in Lagos, Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: This study was a subgroup analysis of the HIV arm of a comparative study conducted over 11 months. A total of 170 HIV-positive children were assessed. Although the eligibility criteria spanned 6 months to 18 years, the actual age range of the recruited cohort was 9 months to 18 years, as no eligible children aged 6-8 months were enrolled during the study period. Serum zinc levels were measured using a conventional atomic absorption spectrophotometer, with normal values defined as 70 to 125 µg/dL. RESULTS: Participants aged 9 months to 18 years (mean 10.9±3.4 years) had been on ART for an average of 7.8 years, with 60.0% on first-line medication. Zinc deficiency prevalence was 69.4% (118/170). While no associations were found with sociodemographic, anthropometric, or clinical variables (all p>0.05), longer ART duration was significantly associated with normal zinc levels (9.1±3.4 vs 7.3±3.6 years, p=0.002; OR=0.860, 95% CI: 0.770-0.960, p=0.007). CONCLUSION: The study found high zinc deficiency prevalence among HIV-positive children in Lagos, Nigeria, despite ART participation. Longer HAART duration may protect against zinc deficiency. Routine zinc assessment is needed, and randomized controlled trials should explore zinc supplementation benefits for improving HIV outcomes in this vulnerable population.
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