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

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.

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

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.

High loss to follow-up in some trials, uncertainty about effects on several key outcomes, and findings largely superseded by antiretroviral therapy.