HIV is the viral infection that eventually leads to the fatal immune disorder AIDS. Vitamins and minerals can help the body fight HIV and may slow the progression of HIV into AIDS, but many infected individuals don't get enough of the micronutrients they need. A multivitamin can provide valuable micronutrients when dietary intake is insufficient. Multivitamins may also provide an inexpensive way to delay the need for pricey medication for some people.
Nutrient Intake
Many people with HIV don't consume the recommended daily intake of all essential vitamins and minerals every day. It is best to get these nutrients through food, but sometimes the symptoms of HIV and AIDS make eating a healthy diet difficult. Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite can all impact how much an HIV patient eats. AIDS patients who are having trouble gaining weight may also encounter difficulty getting all of their required nutrients since food choices will be focused on high-calorie items, not low-calorie foods such as fruits and vegetables.
Specific Nutrients
A multivitamin containing a minimum of 100 percent of the recommended daily value of all major micronutrients is essential, but some particular nutrients specifically affect people with HIV more than others. Antioxidant micronutrients, such as selenium and vitamins C, E and A, can fight free radicals that are produced in excess in the bodies of HIV infected individuals. Because free radicals can also accelerate the damage caused by HIV, antioxidants can help prevent some of this damage. In HIV patients with chronic diarrhea, a deficiency of vitamin B12 is frequently present.
HIV patients should choose a supplement that does not have added iron unless directed by a doctor, since high iron levels were linked to a rise in mortality in a 2007 study published in the "Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome."
Special Circumstances
Pregnant women and children with HIV may derive even more benefit from multivitamins. A 2004 study in the "New England Journal of Medicine" found that multivitamin supplementation slowed AIDS progression in pregnant women and delayed the need for starting antiretroviral therapy. In 2005, the "Journal of Nutrition" published a review of studies on multivitamin supplementation that found that providing supplements led to better pregnancy outcomes among HIV-infected women and fewer childhood infections among their offspring.
Other Supplements
Additional supplements beyond those recommended by the U.S. Institute of Medicine may help slow the progression of AIDS or reduce symptoms, according to the AIDS Info Net website. Supplements that may be useful include omega-3 fatty acids, coenzyme Q-10 and acetyl-L-carnitine. The antioxidants alpha-lipoic acid and n-acetyl-cysteine are other potentially helpful supplements. Some HIV patients benefit from the probiotic acidophilus, while others may need to avoid any probiotics because they are susceptible to intestinal infections. Patients should consult with a doctor before embarking on any supplementation program since some micronutrients may affect their medication schedule.
References
- Tufts University: Building a High Quality Diet
- AIDS Info Net: Vitamins and Minerals
- "New England Journal of Medicine": A randomized trial of multivitamin supplements and HIV disease progression and mortality.
- "Journal of Nutrition": Studies of vitamins and minerals and HIV transmission and disease progression.
- "Digestive Diseases and Science": Malabsorption and deficiency of vitamin B12 in HIV-infected patients with chronic diarrhea.
- "Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome": Elevated iron status strongly predicts mortality in West African adults with HIV infection.
