Micronutrients and Antioxidants in HIV Infection

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes decline in immunity or the ability to fight infection and progresses to acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS). Anti-HIV drug treatment has improved the prognosis of persons with HIV infection, but is expensive and potentially toxic. Low micronutrient levels occur in the blood even in early stages of HIV infection and increase risk of a poorer prognosis, but the role of micronutrient and antioxidant supplements in medical management of HIV/AIDS is not well defined. The proposed clinical trial aims to assess if supplementation of untreated HIV-infected adults with a micronutrient and antioxidant preparation can delay decline in immunity or disease progression or start of anti-HIV drug treatment compared with supplementation with standard multivitamins. If the findings are positive, the study has implications for health and health care savings.