1. The Role of Multivitamins in Paediatric HIV Management in Nigeria: A Randomized Controlled Study

2. Background
The signature of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is immune deficiency
Management involves the use of combination antiretroviral drugs
Multivitamins are also being used
A vicious cycle between micronutrient deficiency, immune deficiency and HIV disease progression has been reported in a number of studies

3. Vicious cycle between HIV infection and micronutrient deficiencies
Increased Morbidity
HIV related diminished nutritional intakes and malabsorption
Micronutrient deficiencies
Oxidative stress and Immunosuppression
Increased viral loads, decreased CD4 counts

4. Research objectives
To determine the effect of multivitamins on health outcomes
To determine if higher strength multivitamins may be able to provide better health outcomes compared to lower strength multivitamins
-Primary outcome: CD4 count
-Secondary outcomes: Haemoglobin (Hb) levels

5. Methodology Group A multivitamin Group B multivitamin
Group C multivitamin
7 micronutrients at RDA
22 micronutrients at RDA
22 micronutrients at 3RDA

6. Results Significant increase in Hb conc. after 3 months
No significant change in CD4 count after 3 months

7. Results significant reduction in prevalence of anaemia after 3 months multivitamin use P= 0.004
Anaemia status at baseline
Anaemia status after 3 months

8. Results No change in prevalence of immune deficiency after 3 months, P=0.405
Immune status at baseline
Immune status after 3 months

9. RESULTS
Multi-micronutrient group assignment did not influence outcomes

10. Discussion
After 3 months of multivitamin use, no significant increase in CD4 count was observed. Hb concentration was increased and prevalence of anaemia was reduced.
So far, this study therefore supports multivitamin use in PLHIV.

11. Thank you.

12. References
Fawzi, W., Msamanga, G., Kupka, R., Spiegelman, D., Villamor, E., Mugusi, F., Wei, R. and Hunter, D. (2007) ‘Multivitamin supplementation improves hematologic status in HIV-infected women and their children in Tanzania’, The American journal of clinical nutrition., 5(85)
National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) (2015) Global AIDS response. Country Progress Report, Nigeria GARPR Available at: a
Semba, R. and Tang, A. (1999) ‘Micronutrients and the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus infection.’, The British journal of nutrition., 3(81)