Vitamin Supplements and Disease Resistance in HIV-Infected Women and Children

Multivitamin supplements (including vitamins B, C, and E) can improve immune parameters, pregnancy outcomes, and child growth and health among HIV-infected women and children. Vitamin A supplementation is beneficial against morbidity and mortality when given to children, but increases the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission when given to pregnant, HIV-infected women. The majority of research pertaining to vitamins and HIV disease progression has been conducted in patients not receiving antiretrovial therapy, and so further research is urgently needed to examine the efficacy of nutritional interventions as coadjuvants of antiretrovial therapy.