Randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of vitamin A supplementation on maternal morbidity during pregnancy and postpartum among HIV-infected women

Objective: To determine whether low-cost treatment of HIV using vitamin A w ould be beneficial, we examined the effect of vitamin A supplementation on morbidity of HIV-1 infected women. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double blind placebo-controlled trial a t King Edward VIII Hospital, in Durban, South Africa. In total, 312 HIV-ser opositive pregnant women between 28 and 32 weeks' gestation were recruited into this trial. Patients were randomized to receive placebo or 5000 IU ret inyl palmitate and 30 mg beta-carotene daily. At delivery of their children , patients received placebo or 200,000 IU retinyl palmitate. The main outco me measures were pre- and postnatal report of HIV-related symptoms. Results: Vitamin A did not confer any significant beneficial effect on the report of either HIV or pregnancy-related symptoms during the pre- or postn atal period. Conclusion: In this study of HIV-infected pregnant women, vitamin A supplem entation given in doses designed to decrease mother-to-infant transmission did not result in significant beneficial effect on reported symptoms pre- o r postnatally. Further investigation with larger number of participants, ta iloring supplementation for specific clinical conditions, outside the conte xt of pregnancy, is required to help clarify the possible clinical benefits of vitamin A.