Effects of a Single Large Dose of Vitamin A, Given during the Postpartum Period to HIV‐Positive Women and Their Infants, on Child HIV Infection, HIV‐Free Survival, and Mortality

Abstract

Targeted vitamin A supplementation of HIV-positive children prolongs their survival. However, postpartum maternal and neonatal vitamin A supplementation may hasten progression to death in breast-fed children who are PCR negative at 6 weeks. These findings raise concern about universal maternal or neonatal vitamin A supplementation in HIV-endemic areas.

Net survival of perinatally and postnatally HIV-infected children: a pooled analysis of individual data from sub-Saharan Africa

“…These data are only from sub-Saharan Africa with 51% of the person-years of exposure coming from the ZVITAMBO trial in Zimbabwe. 8 Regional differentials between sub-Saharan Africa and Thailand were seen in adults; 19 therefore, adding data from other regions would help confirm whether such differences exist for the mortality of HIV-positive children, although we acknowledge that fewer HIV-exposed children are breastfed in Asia or South America than in sub-Saharan Africa.…”

Influence of inflammation as measured by α-1-acid glycoprotein on iron status indicators among HIV-positive postpartum Zimbabwean women

“…Mother-infant pairs were eligible if neither had an acutely life-threatening condition, the infant was a singleton with birth weight X1500 g and the mother planned to stay in Harare after delivery. Mothers were tested for HIV at baseline, as previously described (Humphrey et al, 2006b). CD4 cells were enumerated within 48 h of phlebotomy (Facscount, Becton Dickinson International, Erembodegem, Belgium) for all HIV-positive women.…”

Vitamin A supplementation and neonatal mortality in the developing world: a meta-regression of cluster-randomized trials

“…17,21 A study in Nepal was excluded because it provided vitamin A supplements every four months and hence was not designed to dose neonates. 16 A fourth trial was excluded because it was designed to measure the efficacy of a smaller dose of vitamin A, rather than the standard dose.…”