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. 2016 Jul-Sep;7(3):362-7.
doi: 10.4103/0976-3147.182774.

Effect of Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on neuropsychiatric symptoms and immune response in HIV-positive patients

Prabha M Adhikari  1 , Mukta N Chowta  2 , John T Ramapuram  1 , Satish B Rao  1 , Karthik Udupa  1 , Sahana D Acharya  2
Affiliations

Effect of Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on neuropsychiatric symptoms and immune response in HIV-positive patients

Prabha M Adhikari et al. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2016 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Background: Micronutrients such as B12 and folic acid deficiencies are found in higher number in HIV-infected patients.

Objective: We conducted a study to examine the effect of Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on neuropsychiatric manifestations, CD4 count, and anthropometric measurements in HIV-positive patients.

Materials and methods: Three different groups of HIV patients, namely, HIV patients with tuberculosis, HIV patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations, and asymptomatic HIV patients with 50 patients in each group were included in the study. Baseline and follow-up CD4 count, anthropometric measurements, neuropsychiatric assessments, Vitamin B12, and folic acid estimation were done.

Results: The prevalence of folic acid deficiency was 27.1% in Group I, 31.9% in Group II, and 23.4% in Group III. The prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency was 8.16% in Group I, 6.12% in Group II, and 4.16% in Group III. HIV patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations were noted to have the lowest mean mini-mental score. After the supplementation of vitamins, anthropometric measurements, MMSE as well as Hamilton depression scores, improved in all the three groups whereas Hamilton anxiety scores improved only in Group III. The CD4 count also improved in Groups I and II after the supplementation of vitamins.

Conclusion: Folic acid deficiency was highest among neuropsychiatric patients. The majority of people who had a folic acid deficiency have shown improvement in their neuropsychiatric assessment scores as well as CD4 count after its supplementation.

Keywords: CD4 count; HIV; Vitamin B12; folic acid.

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Figures

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Changes in body mass index
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Changes in triceps skinfold thickness
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Changes in mid-arm circumference
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Changes in waist circumference
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Changes in hip circumference
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Changes in MMSE
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Changes in Hamilton anxiety score
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Figure 8
Changes in Hamilton depression score
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Changes in CD4 count
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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