Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has been found to be very effective in reduction of viral load and progression of HIV disease. It is however believed that this is at the expense of elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. There are however, not enough data to support this in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to determine the possible effects of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) on the antioxidant profile of HIV positive patients who attended antiretroviral clinic in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. This study examined the modification in the antioxidant profile of HIV positive subjects on HAART treatment in Asaba as compared to the HIV positive subject HAART-naïve. One hundred (100) HIV positive patients on HAART and forty (40) HIV positive HAART-naïve patients who attended the Antiretroviral Therapy clinic in Asaba were studied. Antioxidant profile (Superoxide dismutase activity, Glutathione peroxidase activity) & electrolytes (Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium) were determined. The results showed a significant higher values (p<0.05) for the HAART treated subjects as against the HAART-naïve participants for SOD(HAART treated:18.65 ± 4.91U/ml vs. HAART-naïve:15.59 ± 3.59U/ml; p<0.0021), GPX(HAART treated:1.19 ± 0.69U/ml vs. HAART-naïve:0.77 ± 0.44U/ml; p<0.001), Calcium(HAART treated:2.59±0.53mm0l/L vs. HAART-naïve:1.97± 0.25mmom/L; p<0.0001), Magnesium(HAART treated:0.97 ± 0.23mmol/L vs. HAART-naïve:0.78 ± 0.17mmol/L; p<0.0001), while a significant decrease was observed for Phosphorous(HAART treated:0.92 ± 0.25mmol/L vs. HAART-naïve:1.15 ± 0.46mmol/L; p<0.039). These increase in SOD & GPX activities indicates that a substantial oxidative stress occurs in the patients that are being treated with HAARTs in the ART Clinic in Asaba while showing a positive effect on the Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium. Conclusively, this study contributes to evidences that HAART further increases the oxidative stress on the HIV positive patients on HAART and the data offers a guide to clinicians and other professionals on the care and management of HIV positive patients that are on HAART treatment in Asaba and by extension in Nigeria.

Keywords: Antioxidants, HIV, HAART, ART Clinic, Asaba.

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