The Effectiveness of Different Doses or Types of Vitamin D Supplementation in HIV-Positive Individuals in Lahore: Effectiveness of Vitamin D Supplementation in HIV-Positive Individuals

Fatima  Majeed; Javeria  Saleem; Kifayat  Ullah; Shamsa  Rafique; Gul  Mehar Javaid Bukhari; Aimen  Dilnawaz; Ali  Tariq; Ferheen  Shahbaz

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v4i04.673

Authors

Fatima Majeed Department of Public Health, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Javeria Saleem Department of Public Health, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Kifayat Ullah Department of Public Health, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Shamsa Rafique Department of Public Health, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Gul Mehar Javaid Bukhari Department of Community Medicine, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Aimen Dilnawaz University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
Ali Tariq Department of Public Health, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Ferheen Shahbaz Department of Public Health, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v4i04.673

Keywords:

HIV, ART, Vitamin D, Pakistan, AIDS, Vitamin D3, 25(0H)-D

Abstract

The average lifespan of people suffering from HIV-AIDS is estimated to be 9 to 11 years, with Vitamin D deficiency as one of the most common phenomena among them. Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) could significantly enhance the quality of life of HIV-AIDS patients; however, it further decreases Vitamin D serum levels among them. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on immune function, viral load, and other health outcomes in HIV-positive individuals. Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted on a sample of 95 HIV-diagnosed patients aged 19 to 50 years in Punjab, Pakistan. Patients were selected from an AIDS control clinic and prescribed antiretroviral therapy. Baseline assessments were conducted using a structured evaluation questionnaire, and biochemical results were used to classify vitamin D deficiency. Results: The study presents information on PCR viral load counts in HIV patients, including minimum (50), and maximum (750,000) values, mean (32,475) with standard deviation (155,343), 5% sheared mean (28), and the 95% confidence interval (17,802 to 47,148) for the average. Results showed that HIV-positive patients taking vitamin D supplementation had a lower mean rank (50.07) compared to those not taking supplements (57.00), with a difference of 275.5 in the sum of ranks between the two groups. Inferential statistics suggested that vitamin D plays a significant role in improving the prognosis of HIV patients taking ART, with a significance value of 0.0032. Conclusion: The present study concludes that Vitamin D supplementation has a significant role in improving the life status of HIV patients.

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