“…In contrast to TB, only a minor part of the association between HIV and serum phosphate was explained by the acute phase response. In a trial among malnourished Zambian and Tanzanian HIV patients starting ART, there were complex interrelationships between serum phosphate and early mortality which were accentuated by vitamin and mineral fortification of a lipid-based supplement (24,25) Serum phosphate was lower in males compared to females and in the higher compared to lower age groups in the multivariable models. However, among controls only, we found an interaction between age and sex, due to a decline in serum phosphate with increasing age in males, but not in females.…”