Vitamin A supplementation and human immunodeficiency virus load in injection drug users

J Infect Dis. 1998 Mar;177(3):611-6. doi: 10.1086/514235.

Abstract

The use of vitamin A therapy during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is under clinical investigation, and vitamin A could potentially modulate HIV replication because the virus genome contains a retinoic acid response element. A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to determine the impact of single high-dose vitamin A supplementation, 60-mg retinol equivalent (200,000 IU), on HIV load and CD4 lymphocyte count. HIV-infected injection drug users (120) were randomly allocated to receive vitamin A or placebo. Plasma vitamin A level, CD4 lymphocyte count, and HIV load were measured at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. Vitamin A supplementation had no significant impact on HIV load or CD4 lymphocyte count at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. This study suggests that high-dose vitamin A supplementation does not influence HIV load.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Placebos
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous
  • Viral Load
  • Vitamin A / blood
  • Vitamin A / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Placebos
  • RNA, Viral
  • Vitamin A