Question
What vitamins or antioxidants are recommended HIV positive people?
19 September 2014. Related: All topics, Supplements and herbs.
I’ve recently been diagnosed with HIV and am starting to make changes to my diet. I’ve read your very helpful guide to vitamins and minerals on the factsheets page but am still a little confused about exactly what vitamins to use. I’m currently taking a one-a-day multi vitamin but understand that I need a little more than that.
My next appointment isn’t for another 3 months and I wanted to start taking vitamins before then. Please help.
I’m not sure if its significant but my CD4 count is 380.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
In general, there is unlikely to be a benefit from taking a multivitamin unless you have a vitamin deficiency. In this case your doctor would recommended the vitamin. When the vitamin or supplement is for a specific use there is likely to be proven evidence of a benefit.
Some people take a multivitamin if their diet is not good, but otherwise vitamin supplements are not usually needed in you have a balanced and nutritious diet.
If you want to do this, then any of the multivitamins in most supermarkets and pharmacies would be okay – and unlikely to do any harm. One recent caution, is that if you are using an integrase inhibitor in your HIV combination, the multivitamin should be taken more than four hour apart from your HIV meds.
It is also good to tell your doctor of any supplements or complementary medicines you are taking. If you are doing this for a specific symptoms, then your doctor may have other options.
Just as with vitamins, there is little evidence to show any benefit from taking an antioxidant, unless this is for a medical reason recommended by your doctor.
There is no evidence to show that vitamins or supplement have any effect on your CD4 count or viral load. When you come to need HIV treatment, ARVs are the only proven way to reduce VL and increase CD4.
The market for vitamin and supplements is part of a multi-billion dollar operation and given the vast profits that are made, it is a concern how little evidence is available for any benefit. When careful studies have been performed the evidence of benefit is not only not found but sometimes harmful results are reported.
Also given the size of this market, there is very little regulation to know whether what it says on the label is actually reflected in the supplements themselves.
Note: This answer was updated in September 2014 from an original question in May 2010.
Hi Sarah,
Yes, it is possible to take vitamins with your HIV medication. But some HIV meds can interact with some vitamin supplements and herbs. It’s a good idea to let your doctor know what vitamins you are taking.
Do you have access to your CD4 and viral load results? And what HIV meds are you taking at the moment?
Hi
I’m living with HIV since 2002 then I start medication 2008.Is it possible to take vitamins?
Hi Felix,
A person living with HIV can do all kinds of exercise. Please see this guide to exercise and staying active. This can help you and your doctor work out what exercise is best for you.
What HIV treatment (ART) are you taking? Do you have access to your CD4 count and viral load results?
What kind of exercise can a person living with HIV do?
Hi Adeola,
It’s great to hear you’ve been on ART for over 7 months and you’re feeling very OK.
This is all good because exercise and healthy eating is great for everybody. And that includes people who are HIV positive.
1. No need to reduce training, you can keep to your usual routine.
2. A balanced diet should give you all the vitamins and minerals you need. Here’s a guide to a balanced diet and your health.
3. A balanced diet should give you all you need. You can take supplements if you want, but please tell your doctor because some herbs and supplements can interact with some HIV meds.
4. Running and playing football is good exercise if you’re taking HAART.
Hello, have been on HAART for over 7 months now and am feeling very OK without any side effect. The question I want to ask is this.
1. As a footballer who train almost everyday, do I need to reduce my training?
2. Is there anything that I need to include in my diet as I do read that being on Haart makes body in need of more nutrients.
3. Do I need to be taking multivitamin supplements to help my body and muscles? and finally
4. Is running and playing football a good exercise for HIV patient on Haart?
Thank you.
Hi Koibito,
What is the whitening supplement made of? Is it an antioxidant? As Simon says above, there is little evidence to show any benefit from taking an antioxidant, unless this is for a medical reason recommended by your doctor.
Im taking arv 3in1 can i take whitining supplimemt?
I am a 27 year survivor. I have had my count below 50. I have worked hard in changing my life style and rebuilding my health threw the grace of my family, friends and Drs. I will tell you I take vitafusion , vitamin d, biotin, magnesium, folic acid, ammune booster, b12 complex, and Caltrate. My last few years my cd4 has only climbed 800- to my last blood test was 1258. I swear it is for my vitamins, i drink no alcohol, and abuse no drugs. Please check what you can take and do it they work.
Hi Futhi,
What ARVs are you taking? There is a caution for taking multivitamins and integrase inhibitors, such as dolutegravir. So as Simon says above, if you want to do this, then any of the multivitamins in most supermarkets and pharmacies would be okay – and unlikely to do any harm. One recent caution, is that if you are using an integrase inhibitor in your HIV combination, the multivitamin should be taken more than four hours apart from your HIV meds.