The purpose of the
review was to explore the effects of nutritional supplements in
children with
HIV/
AIDS.Nutritional supplements were found to have both positive and negative effects in
HIV/
AIDS children.It was found that
selenium helps to boost
immunity.
Vitamin D supplementation was found to delay
mother to child transmission (MTCT) of
HIV and to reduce
stunted growth associated with persistent
diarrhea.
Vitamins B,C,and E were found to delay
HIV disease progression,reduce
oxidative stress and
HIV viral load.Multivitamin supplementation was found to be more effective in delaying
HIV disease progression.
Protein nutrition was found to improve cognitive and motor developments of
children as well as helping
HIV-positive
children achieve 100% weight for height.Some
nutrient supplements,however,were found to have negative effects on
HIV/
AIDS children.
Vitamin A was found to double the
risk of
mortality of
HIV/
AIDS in
infants exposed to
HIV via
breastfeeding.
Zinc was found to have a positive effect on
production of infectious
virus through its action on
reverse transcriptase.Some micronutrional interact with each other leading to harmful side effects such as
diarrhea.Some nutritional supplements interact with antiretroviral
drugs leading to
treatment failure.It is important for
children to be given right doses of nutritional supplements and that their
immune system should be closely monitored.