Evaluation of Serum Copper and Zinc Concentrations in Relation to Clinical Status among Adult People Living with HIV/AIDS in North-West Ethiopia

Aims: To evaluate serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentration in relation to clinical status among people living with HIV/AIDS for possible interventions.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study design was used.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted between January and February 2013 in Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Methods: Serum concentrations of Cu and Zn from 150 people living with HIV/AIDS were measured using a fully automated flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Besides, world health organization (WHO) clinical staging, CD4+ T-cell count, CD8+ T-cell count, hemoglobin determination, and Body Mass Index (BMI) were performed to evaluate the clinical status of study participants.

Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being serum Zn and Cu deficient was higher where there is no antiretroviral therapy (ART) than on ART (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=3.56, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.52-8.33, P=0.003 and 5.85, 95% CI=1.22-28.058, P= 0.027respectively).Similarly, the odds of being serum Zn deficient were significantly associated to lower BMI than normal (AOR=2.61, 95% CI=1.02 - 6.67, P= 0.046) and abnormal hemoglobin was found to be a factor to having high serum Cu/Zn ratio than normal hemoglobin (AOR=3.26, 95% CI=1.07 - 9.94, P= 0.038).

Conclusions: A relatively high percentage of subjects had serum Cu and Zn deficiency and high serum Cu/Zn ratio. Early evaluation of serum Cu and Zn deficiency should be carried out and mineral supplementation along with antiretroviral treatment should be provided for pre-ART, malnourished and anemic people living with HIV/AIDS.