Vitamin A supplements for reducing mother‐to‐child HIV transmission

Study answer

What this study found

Vitamin A supplementation probably has little or no effect on mother-to-child transmission of HIV and may not significantly reduce child mortality by two years of age. However, it may increase mean birthweight and probably decreases the incidence of low birthweight.

Study & population

Involved five randomized controlled trials with a total of 7298 participants from Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, focusing on the effects of vitamin A supplements compared to placebo or no intervention.

Intervention

Vitamin A supplementation given to HIV-positive women during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period.

Key limitation

High loss to follow-up in some trials, uncertainty about effects on several key outcomes, and findings largely superseded by antiretroviral therapy.

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Original abstract