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Effect of vitamin supplementation to HIV-infected pregnant women on the micronutrient status of their infants

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages 960–968 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

Design:

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 μmol/l, P<0.0001) and 6 months (mean difference=0.06 μmol/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 μmol/l, P=0.0008 and 1.1 μmol/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.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the women who participated in this project, the study coordinator, research assistants, laboratory technicians, nurses, midwives, and administrative staff who made the study possible. This study was sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (Grant NICHD R01 32257) and the Fogarty International Center (Grant NIH D43 TW00004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    A Baylin, E Villamor & W W Fawzi

  2. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    N Rifai

  3. Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    G Msamanga

  4. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    W W Fawzi

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  1. A Baylin
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  2. E Villamor
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  3. N Rifai
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  4. G Msamanga
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  5. W W Fawzi
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Correspondence to A Baylin.

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Guarantor: A Baylin.

Contributors: AB analyzed and interpreted the data and wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. WWF and GM are principal investigators of the Tanzania Vitamin Supplementation Trial and contributed to the study design and its implementation. NR was responsible for the serum measurements. EV provided statistical guidance in data analyses and assisted in data interpretation. All coauthors participated in manuscript preparation.

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Baylin, A., Villamor, E., Rifai, N. et al. Effect of vitamin supplementation to HIV-infected pregnant women on the micronutrient status of their infants. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 960–968 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602201

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