Vitamin A supplementation in HIV-infected adults

Vitamin A is important for visual health, immune function and fetal growth and development. Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in many parts of the world, particularly Africa and South-East Asia. It can cause visual impairment in the form of night blindness and, in children, may increase the risk of illness and death from childhood infections, including measles and those causing diarrhoea.

In HIV-infected adults, low levels of vitamin A in the blood have been associated with increases in disease progression and risk of mortality. Providing vitamin A supplements to HIV-infected adults may therefore be expected to delay disease progression, however results from studies to date are inconsistent, with the majority providing no clear indication of benefit.