title: Efficacy and safety of zinc supplementation for adults, children and pregnant women with HIV infection: systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy and safety of zinc supplementary in children, adults and pregnant women with HIV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a comprehensive search in Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CBM, VIP and CNKI. Only randomized controlled trials conducted subsequent to the introduction of zinc supplementation were included in this systematic review. Two reviewers assessed and extracted data for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six trials with a total of 1009 participants were included. The findings in this review suggested a benefit of zinc supplementation in reducing opportunistic infection for both adults and children with HIV infection. In terms of increase in zinc level and CD4 counts, however, only adults with HIV infection benefited. For other outcomes, such as viral load, mortality, mother-to-child transmission of HIV and foetal outcomes, zinc supplementation conferred no benefit over placebo. No adverse event related to zinc supplementation was found in all the included trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the current evidence, zinc supplementation seems to be beneficial in adult patients with HIV infection in some aspects. More research is needed in children and pregnant women. The influence of zinc dose, duration and usage of antiretroviral medicine also requires further investigation.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan, China.
authors: Linan
authors: L
authors: Zeng
authors: Lingli
authors: L
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D015032:Zinc