# Vitamin D and Alcohol Use Disorder on Progression of Dental Disease in MSM with and without HIV

> **NIH NIH R56** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2021 · $651,787

## Abstract

Project Summary
 
  Peruvian men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for HIV and alcohol use disorder (AUD), two
  diseases associated with dental caries and periodontal disease. Our proposal entitled “Vitamin D and alcohol
  use disorder on progression of dental disease in MSM with and without HIV (VITA)” will explore the complex
  relationship between HIV, AUD, oral diseases, and blood vitamin D levels. Although vitamin D supplementation
  appears to be a promising approach to decrease dental disease, there is limited research on longitudinal cohorts
  involving vitamin D, HIV, and AUD. This exciting project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the
 University of Washington (UW), Yale University, the Center of Excellence Centro de Investigaciones
 Tecnológicas, Biomédicas y Medioambientales (CITBM), and Asociacion Civil Impacta Salud y Educacion
 (IMPACTA). We will recruit and follow for 24 months a longitudinal cohort of 400 MSM in Lima, Peru that will be
 demographically matched and stratified by presence of HIV and AUD. We will collect data at baseline, 12-month,
 and 24-month visits. This application is built upon the successes of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) long-
 term funding in the region as well as the UW’s 18-year history of collaborative research in Peru.

 Our objectives are to: 1) Determine differences in vitamin D status in relation to the presence of HIV and
 AUD or both. At the three exams, we propose to measure a comprehensive set of vitamin D metabolites,
 obtaining an average level of each of these serum vitamin D biomarkers. By stratifying by HIV and AUD
 exposure, we will be able to measure vitamin D levels by group, identify which cohort(s) have the highest
 prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and assess factors associated with vitamin D levels. We hypothesize that
 serum vitamin D status varies by presence and severity of HIV and AUD; and 2) Determine associations
 between vitamin D biomarkers and the progression of dental caries and periodontal disease. Within
 subgroups of MSM defined by the presence of HIV infection and AUD, we will a): assess the degree to which
 total biomarkers are associated with the progression of dental disease, and b) identify factors impacting these
 associations. We hypothesize that low serum vitamin D status is an independent predictor of the progression of
 dental disease.

 Findings from this study will inform future research and therapeutic interventions for people living with HIV to
 improve their oral health and quality of life.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10488307
- **Project number:** 1R56DE029639-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** FREDERICK LEWIS ALTICE
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $651,787
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-24 → 2023-09-23

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10488307

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10488307, Vitamin D and Alcohol Use Disorder on Progression of Dental Disease in MSM with and without HIV (1R56DE029639-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10488307. Licensed CC0.

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