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. 2019 May-Jun;60(3):149-155.
doi: 10.4103/nmj.NMJ_74_19.

The Impact of 6-month Micronutrient Supplementation on Viral, Immunological, and Mental Health Profile of a Cohort of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy-Naive HIV-Positive Patients in Northern Nigeria

Victor Obiajulu Olisah  1 , Tajudeen Abiola  2 , Christopher I Okpataku  3 , Reginald O Obiako  4 , Ishaq A Audu  1 , Bashir A Yakasai  5
Affiliations

The Impact of 6-month Micronutrient Supplementation on Viral, Immunological, and Mental Health Profile of a Cohort of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy-Naive HIV-Positive Patients in Northern Nigeria

Victor Obiajulu Olisah et al. Niger Med J. 2019 May-Jun.

Abstract

Background: HIV is a chronic disease with inflammatory reactions involving numerous elements of the immune system, resulting in an increased risk for other physical and psychiatric morbidities. Micronutrients, some of which possess anti-inflammatory properties, may help prevent the development of psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression in people living with HIV disease.

Objectives: This study examined the profile of viral load, CD4 cell count, C-reactive protein, anxiety, and depression among highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-naive HIV-positive patients receiving micronutrient supplementation over a 6-month period.

Materials and methods: A total of ninety HAART-naïve HIV-infected patients completed the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale. Their blood samples were taken for serum viral load, CD4 cell count, and C-reactive protein at baseline. They all received a micronutrient supplement for 6 months, and 68 participants who remained in treatment at 6 months were reassessed with the same parameters.

Results: After 6 months of micronutrient supplementation, the participants were found to have statistically significantly lower mean scores on the anxiety (t-test = 2.970, P = 0.003) and depression (t-test = 3.843, P = 0.001) subscales. They also had statistically significantly lower median CD4 cell count (P = 0.00) and C-reactive protein serum measures (P = 0.04). The median viral load decreased although the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Micronutrient supplementation may reduce inflammatory reactions, anxiety, and depression in HAART-naive HIV-infected persons.

Keywords: Anxiety; CD4 count; HIV; Nigeria; depression; highly active antiretroviral therapy-naive; micronutrients; viral load.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

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