Is folate deficiency a common cause of distal symmetric polyneuropathy in Zambian clinics?

Objectives: To evaluate the odds of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies among Zambian clinic attendees with distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP) and age, sex, and HIV matched controls.

Methods: Cases were adults from clinics in urban/peri-urban Zambia. Controls were enrolled among persons not seeking personal medical care, such as a caregiver or person collecting antiretrovirals without a medical complaint.