Vitamin D status in young HIV infected women of various ethnic origins: incidence of vitamin D deficiency and possible impact on bone density

Bone mineral density among virologically suppressed Asians older than 50 years old living with and without HIV: A cross-sectional study

There are limited data regarding bone health in older people living with HIV (PWH), especially those of Asian ethnicity. We aimed to determine whether BMD in well-suppressed HIV-infected men and women aged ≥ 50 years are different from HIV-uninfected controls. In a cross-sectional study, BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and calciotropic hormones were measured. A total of 481 participants were consecutively enrolled (209 HIV+ men, 88 HIV- men, 126 HIV+ women and 58 HIV- women). PWH were on average 2.5 years younger [men: 55.0 vs. 57.5 yr; women: 54.0 vs. 58.0 yr] and had lower body mass index (BMI) [men: 23.2 vs. 25.1 kg/m2; women: 23.1 vs. 24.7 kg/m2] compared to the controls. The median duration since HIV diagnosis was 19 (IQR 15-21) years in men and 18 (IQR 15-21) years in women. Three-quarters of PWH had been treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-containing antiretroviral therapy for a median time of 7.4 (IQR 4.5-8.9) years in men and 8.2 (IQR 6.1-10) years in women. In an unadjusted model, HIV+men had significantly lower BMD (g/cm2) at the total hip and femoral neck whereas there was a tend toward lower BMD in HIV+women. After adjusting for age, BMI, and other traditional osteoporotic risk factors, BMD of virologically suppressed older PWH did not differ from participants without HIV (P>0.1). PWH had lower serum 25(OH)D levels but this was not correlated with BMD. In conclusion, BMD in well-suppressed PWH is not different from non-HIV people, therefore, effective control of HIV infection and minimization of other traditional osteoporosis risk factors may help maintain good skeletal health and prevent premature bone loss in Asian PWH. Clinical trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov # NCT00411983.

Increased Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency Among HIV-Infected Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a heavy burden worldwide. Observational studies have reported a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) among people living with HIV (PLWH). However, its deficiency is also a global health problem. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis and systemic review to compare differences between HIV-infected subjects and non-HIV-infected subjects.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane library. We extracted data, including demographic information, study type, vitamin D-related values, and HIV-related values, ultimately including 15 studies after removing duplicates and screening titles, abstracts, and full texts and finally performing a meta-analysis in terms of vitamin D level and vitamin D deficiency prevalence.

Results: Regarding VDD prevalence, the HIV vs. the non-HIV group had an odds ratio of 1.502 (95% CI, 1.023–2.205; P = 0.038). In the subgroup analysis, the odds ratios were 1.647 (95% CI, 1.020–2.659; P = 0.041; I² = 94.568) from 7 studies (age over 40), 2.120 (95% CI, 1.122–4.008; P = 0.021; I² = 0.000) from 2 studies (BMI less than or equal to 25), 1.805 (95% CI, 1.373–2.372; P = 0.042; I² = 74.576) from 7 studies (latitude <40), 2.120 (95% CI, 1.122–4.088; P = 0.021; I² = 0.000) from 2 studies (only included male participants), and 2.296 (95% CI, 1.287–4.097; P = 0.005; I² = 19.927) from 3 studies (only included ART-experienced participants). Thirteen studies were deemed to have moderate quality, while two had high quality.

Conclusions: HIV infected subjects are prone to have VDD compared with general population. ART, older age, lower BMI, lower latitude and male sex may present risk factors for VDD in PLWH.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=228096.

Antiretroviral-naïve HIV-infected patients had lower bone formation markers than HIV-uninfected adults

There are limited studies regarding bone health among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Asia. We compared bone mineral density (BMD), serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status and bone turnover markers (serum procollagen type1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type1 collagen) among 302 antiretroviral therapy (ART) naive PLHIV compared to 269 HIV-uninfected controls from Thailand. People aged ≥30 years, with and without HIV infection (free of diabetes, hypertension, and active opportunistic infection) were enrolled. BMD at the lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck were measured using Hologic DXA at baseline and at 5 years. We analyzed BMD, serum 25(OH)D levels, and bone turnover markers at the patients' baseline visit. PLHIV were 1.5 years younger and had lower BMI. PLHIV had higher mean serum 25(OH)D level and similar BMD to the controls. Interestingly, PLHIV had significantly lower bone formation (serum P1NP and OC), particularly those with low CD4 count. Only a few participants had low bone mass. ARV naïve middle-aged PLHIV did not have lower BMD or lower vitamin D levels compared to the controls. However, PLHIV had lower bone formation markers, particularly those with low CD4 count. This finding supports the benefit of early ART.

Bone health and HIV in resource-limited settings: a scoping review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Sub-Saharan Africa and other resource-limited settings (RLS) bear the greatest burden of the HIV epidemic globally. Advantageously, the expanding access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) has resulted in increased survival of HIV individuals in the last 2 decades. Data from resource rich settings provide evidence of increased risk of comorbid conditions such as osteoporosis and fragility fractures among HIV-infected populations. We provide the first review of published and presented data synthesizing the current state of knowledge on bone health and HIV in RLS.

RECENT FINDINGS

With few exceptions, we found a high prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) and hypovitaminosis D among HIV-infected populations in both RLS and resource rich settings. Although most recognized risk factors for bone loss are similar across settings, in certain RLS there is a high prevalence of both non-HIV-specific risk factors and HIV-specific risk factors, including advanced HIV disease and widespread use of ART, including tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, a non-BMD sparing ART. Of great concern, we neither found published data on the effect of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate initiation on BMD, nor any data on incidence and prevalence of fractures among HIV-infected populations in RLS.

SUMMARY

To date, the prevalence and squeal of metabolic bone diseases in RLS are poorly described. This review highlights important gaps in our knowledge about HIV-associated bone health comorbidities in RLS. This creates an urgent need for targeted research that can inform HIV care and management guidelines in RLS.

Prevalence and risk factors for efavirenz-based antiretroviral treatment-associated severe vitamin D deficiency: A prospective cohort study

Initiation of efavirenz-based combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is associated with Vitamin D deficiency, but the risk factors including efavirenz pharmacokinetics for cART-induced severe vitamin D deficiency (SVDD) and the impact of anti-tuberculosis (TB) cotreatment are not explored. We investigated the prevalence of SVDD in HIV and TB-HIV coinfected patients and associated risk factors for treatment-induced SVDD.Treatment-naïve Ethiopian HIV patients with (n = 102) or without (n = 89) TB co-infection were enrolled prospectively and received efavirenz-based cART. In TB-HIV coinfected patients, rifampicin-based anti-TB treatment was initiated 4 or 8 weeks before starting cART. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 [OH]D), cholesterol and 4-beta hydroxycholesterol concentrations were measured at baseline, 4, 16, and 48 week of cART. Plasma efavirenz concentrations were determined at 4 and 16 weeks of cART.TB-HIV patients had significantly lower plasma 25 (OH)D3 levels than HIV-only patients at baseline. TB co-infection, low Karnofsky score, high viral load, and high CYP3A activity as measured by plasma 4β-hydroxycholesterol/cholesterol ratios were significant predictors of low 25 (OH)D3 levels at baseline. In HIV-only patients, initiation of efavirenz-based cART increased the prevalence of SVVD from 27% at baseline to 76%, 79%, and 43% at 4, 16, and 48 weeks of cART, respectively. The median 25 (OH)D3 levels declined from baseline by -40%, -50%, and -14% at 4, 16, and 48 weeks of cART, respectively.In TB-HIV patients, previous anti-TB therapy had no influence on 25 (OH)D3 levels, but the initiation of efavirenz-based cART increased the prevalence of SVDD from 57% at baseline to 70% and 72% at the 4 and 16 weeks of cART, respectively. Median plasma 25 (OH)D3 declined from baseline by -17% and -21% at week 4 and 16 of cART, respectively.Our results indicate low plasma cholesterol, high CYP3A activity, and high plasma efavirenz concentrations as significant predictors of early efavirenz-based cART-induced vitamin D deficiency. Low plasma 25 (OH)D3 level at baseline is associated with TB co-infection and HIV diseases progression. Initiation of efavirenz-based cART is associated with high incidence of SVDD, whereas rifampicin based anti-TB therapy co-treatment has no significant effect. Supplementary vitamin D during cART initiation may be beneficial for HIV patients regardless of TB coinfection.