Zinc – Review of Its Present Role in HIV-Infection

As micronutrient deficiencies are very common in symptomatic as well as in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients, nutritional interventions can play a major role in comprehensive management of HIV-infection. Also such interventions are feasible and affordable, do not require HIV testing facilities and may even be beneficial to HIVinfected patients without micronutrient deficiency. Current evidence on the role of micronutrients in childhood infections has led to the development and implementation of preventive and therapeutic interventions that reduce infectious disease morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries. Similarly, existing data and data emerging from ongoing and future research could result in interventions to improve micronutrient intake and status which could contribute to a reduction in the magnitude and impact of the global HIV epidemic. In this context, present review discusses importance of zinc in HIV-Infection