Carol Forsloff --Women
carrying the AIDS virus have to be especially careful about taking
vitamin supplements because they increase the chances of transmitting
the HIV infection to the child.
carrying the AIDS virus have to be especially careful about taking
vitamin supplements because they increase the chances of transmitting
the HIV infection to the child.
Despite
the many benefits of breastfeeding science has found, for HIV-postive
women, women must be especially careful and not take Vitamin A and
beta-carotene supplements which can increase the chances of the child
becoming infected with the HIV virus.
women, women must be especially careful and not take Vitamin A and
beta-carotene supplements which can increase the chances of the child
becoming infected with the HIV virus.
Epidemiologist Eduardo Villamor of theUniversity of Michigan
School of Public Health says this may happen because these nutrients
may increase an inflammatory condition causing leakage of blood plasma
and viral particles into the mother's milk.
School of Public Health says this may happen because these nutrients
may increase an inflammatory condition causing leakage of blood plasma
and viral particles into the mother's milk.
Villamor's
findings are in two recent articles appearing in in the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the Journal of Nutrition.
findings are in two recent articles appearing in in the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the Journal of Nutrition.
"So
there are now strong arguments to consider the implications of
supplementation to pregnant or lactating women who are HIV-positive,"
said Villamor, associate professor of epidemiology and environmental
health sciences. "It does not look like it's a safe intervention for
them."
there are now strong arguments to consider the implications of
supplementation to pregnant or lactating women who are HIV-positive,"
said Villamor, associate professor of epidemiology and environmental
health sciences. "It does not look like it's a safe intervention for
them."
In
under-developed countries Mother-to-child HIV transmission is a huge
problem where HIV is prevalent, Villamor said. In 2008 alone, there were
430,000 new infections and more than 95 percent of those resulted from
mother-to-child transmission. Most were in sub-Saharan Africa.
under-developed countries Mother-to-child HIV transmission is a huge
problem where HIV is prevalent, Villamor said. In 2008 alone, there were
430,000 new infections and more than 95 percent of those resulted from
mother-to-child transmission. Most were in sub-Saharan Africa.
"The
takeaway is that daily supplementation of HIV-infected pregnant or
lactating women with vitamin A and beta-carotene at the doses tested is
probably not safe and efforts need to be strengthened on preventing
mother-to-child transmission through other interventions such as
anti-retroviral regimens," Villamor said.
takeaway is that daily supplementation of HIV-infected pregnant or
lactating women with vitamin A and beta-carotene at the doses tested is
probably not safe and efforts need to be strengthened on preventing
mother-to-child transmission through other interventions such as
anti-retroviral regimens," Villamor said.
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