title: Multivitamin supplements have no effect on growth of Tanzanian children born to HIV-infected mothers.
abstract: Growth faltering and micronutrient deficiencies commonly coexist in HIV-exposed children in sub-Saharan Africa, and correcting deficiencies, such as those of vitamins B-complex, C, and E, may improve HIV-related endpoints and child growth. We therefore examined the effect of daily oral supplementation of vitamins B-complex, C, and E on growth among 2341 children born to HIV-infected mothers in Tanzania. HIV-infected women pregnant at ≤32 wk of gestation were enrolled in the study. Children were randomized at age 6 wk to receive multivitamins or placebo until age 104 wk. All women received the same types of vitamins pre- and postnatally. At 6 wk, 256 children (11.1%) were HIV infected and the mean (SD) Z-scores for length for age (LAZ), weight for length (WLZ), and weight for age (WAZ) were -0.39 ± 1.20, -0.21 ± 1.23, and -0.52 ± 1.11, respectively. There was no overall treatment effect on LAZ, WLZ, or WAZ profiles during the follow-up (P ≥ 0.15). There was no treatment effect from 6 to 104 wk on LAZ [(95% CI: -0.14, 0.13); P = 0.94], WLZ [(95% CI: -0.17, 0.13); P = 0.78], or WAZ [(95% CI: -0.15, 0.16); P = 0.97] or on the incidence of growth failure, defined as respective Z-scores < -2 (P ≥ 0.29). Among the subgroup of HIV-uninfected children, there was no treatment effect from 6 to 104 wk on LAZ, WLZ, and WAZ (P ≥ 0.71) or on the incidence of growth failure (P ≥ 0.16). Multivitamin supplements had no effect on growth among children born to HIV-infected women who were themselves receiving multivitamins.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. rkupka@post.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kupka
authors.forename: Karim P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Manji
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aboud
authors.forename: Rodrick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kisenge
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Okuma
authors.forename: Wafaie W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Fawzi
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duggan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins