Effects of a Single Large Dose of Vitamin A, Given during the Postpartum Period to HIV‐Positive Women and Their Infants, on Child HIV Infection, HIV‐Free Survival, and Mortality

Abstract

Targeted vitamin A supplementation of HIV-positive children prolongs their survival. However, postpartum maternal and neonatal vitamin A supplementation may hasten progression to death in breast-fed children who are PCR negative at 6 weeks. These findings raise concern about universal maternal or neonatal vitamin A supplementation in HIV-endemic areas.

Net survival of perinatally and postnatally HIV-infected children: a pooled analysis of individual data from sub-Saharan Africa

“…These data are only from sub-Saharan Africa with 51% of the person-years of exposure coming from the ZVITAMBO trial in Zimbabwe. 8 Regional differentials between sub-Saharan Africa and Thailand were seen in adults; 19 therefore, adding data from other regions would help confirm whether such differences exist for the mortality of HIV-positive children, although we acknowledge that fewer HIV-exposed children are breastfed in Asia or South America than in sub-Saharan Africa.…”

Acute Illness is Associated with Suppression of the Growth Hormone Axis in Zimbabwean Infants

“…The data used in this current study were collected during the ZVITAMBO trial, conducted between 1997 and 2001 in Zimbabwe. 21 The ZVITAMBO was a randomized clinical trial of high-dose vitamin A supplementation in 14,110 mother-infant pairs, enrolled within 96 hours of delivery from peri-urban clinics in Harare. Mothers were interviewed upon enrollment, providing data on household demographic and socioeconomic status.…”

Influence of inflammation as measured by α-1-acid glycoprotein on iron status indicators among HIV-positive postpartum Zimbabwean women

“…Mother-infant pairs were eligible if neither had an acutely life-threatening condition, the infant was a singleton with birth weight X1500 g and the mother planned to stay in Harare after delivery. Mothers were tested for HIV at baseline, as previously described (Humphrey et al, 2006b). CD4 cells were enumerated within 48 h of phlebotomy (Facscount, Becton Dickinson International, Erembodegem, Belgium) for all HIV-positive women.…”