Supplementation with multivitamins may slow HIV progression

HIV-infected patients often suffer from lack of vitamins. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that giving these patients the use of multivitamins combined with additional minerals may slow the progression of the disease.

Scientists conducted a study in Botswana, a country in southern Africa that is suffering from a pandemic of AIDS. In this country, one in four adults is infected with HIV.

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Professor Marianna Baum of Florida International University (USA) has tested 900 adults who have been infected but have not used anti-AIDS drugs.

They are divided into several groups and given the combination of vitamins B, C and E in combination, with selenium or a fake medicine.

As a result, most people infected with HIV have increased immunity. Professor Baum said at first she thought only multivitamins or selenium alone had the effect of boosting the immune system.

However, research has shown that this drug must be combined to be effective. The study also shows that when HIV-infected people use anti-HIV drugs immediately after infection, they can remain healthy and have less risk of transmitting the virus to their partners.

However, for many countries, the price of anti-AIDS drugs is still very high. Professor Baum concluded that combination therapy with multivitamins and minerals will help low-income countries better control HIV.