Effect of vitamin supplementation to HIV-infected pregnant women on the micronutrient status of their infants.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether supplementation with vitamin A and/or vitamins B, C, and E to HIV-infected women during pregnancy and lactation is related to increased concentrations of vitamins A, B12, and E in their infants during the first 6 months of life.


METHODS
We carried out a randomized clinical trial among 716 mother-infant pairs in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Women were randomly allocated to receive a daily oral dose of one of four regimens: vitamin A, multivitamins (B, C, and E), multivitamins including A, or placebo. Supplementation started at first prenatal visit and continued after delivery throughout the breastfeeding period. The serum concentration of vitamins A, E and B12 was measured in infants at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum.


RESULTS
Maternal vitamin A supplementation increased serum retinol in the infants at 6 weeks (mean difference=0.09 micromol/l, P<0.0001) and 6 months (mean difference=0.06 micromol/l, P=0.0002), and decreased the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, but had no impact on serum vitamins E or B12. Multivitamins increased serum vitamin B12 at 6 weeks and 6 months (mean differences=176 pmol/l, P<0.0001 and 127 pmol/l, P<0.0001, respectively) and vitamin E (mean differences=1.8 micromol/l, P=0.0008 and 1.1 micromol/l, P=0.004, respectively) and decreased the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin supplementation to HIV-1-infected women is effective in improving the vitamin status of infants during the first 6 months of age.
Baylin
A
A
Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. abaylin@hsph.harvard.edu
Villamor
E
E
Rifai
N
N
Msamanga
G
G
Fawzi
W W
WW
D000328:Adult; D002657:Child Development; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000378:metabolism*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care; D013636:Tanzania; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
D018977:Micronutrients; D014815:Vitamins