Question
Can I take supplements when I’m HIV positive?
4 August 2010. Related: All topics, Supplements and herbs.
Since I have been taking my HIV regimen the only time I took a vitamin tablet was during my latent TB diagnosis in 2008 (Vitamin B12). I hope vitamin and supplements are not the same?
This supplement came out in Thailand with good results and people were recommending it so much. The supplement was made from rice and called Vital Star.
Why I’m asking is because I don’t want to harm my body with supplements and I don’t know if it is possible for a HIV positive person to take supplements or not.
Please I need your advice but I bought it already.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
It is fine for HIV positive people to take vitamins and supplements. However, you should always check with your doctor first as there are some supplements such as St John’s Wart which interact with certain HIV medications.
For a comprehensive guide to which vitamins and supplements are good for people with HIV please follow this link
Hello Lorraine and thanks for getting in touch.
There seems to be an interaction with evening primrose oil as the ARVs do not allow for it to be removed from the body as fast so the amount you take might build up.
There is no interaction with collagen.
Here in I-base we don’t recommend people to be on supplements, unless their doctor prescribed them.
Some of the supplements are not safe as they are not regulated and can have interactions with ARVs.
If you decide to take supplements you need to make sure you space them from your ARVs by 6 hours if they contain any metals (zinc, magnesium, iron, etc.) otherwise you run the risk of developing resistance.
Finally, if you are in menopause or experiencing perimenopausal symptoms it’s best to speak to your doctor as there are treatments they can give you that are very effective.
Can I use Evening primrose oil, or any collagen drink/tablets while im on volutrip treatment (HIV).
Hi Mmapateng, I am sorry but what is Lion Mane and what are the active ingredients. It is easy to also check with you local pharmacist.
Hi,
Is it safe to take Lion Mane capsule alone with ARV’s?
Hello Atuhaire and thanks for getting in touch.
Vitamin and mineral supplements only help if you have a deficiency of that vitamin/mineral.
Some supplements interact with current ARVs – which means they don’t let ARVs to work properly (you can check here if there are interactions: https://www.hiv-druginteractions.org)
There is little benefit from taking vitamins in larger amounts (usually by supplements).
There is also a small risk of developing vitamin toxicity.
This can happen after eating too much of a certain food or taking high dose vitamin or mineral supplements.
However, if you are struggling to eat a balanced diet and provide your body with enough nutrients from food, you should consider speaking with your GP, health worker or dietician about this.
This link has more information:
https://i-base.info/guides/side/diet-a-balanced-diet-and-your-health
If you have HIV you can take wellwoman
Hello Sicbosiswe and thanks for getting in touch.
Vitamin and mineral supplements only help if you have a deficiency of that vitamin/mineral.
Some supplements interact with current ARVs – which means they don’t let ARVs to work properly
(you can check here if there are interactions: https://www.hiv-druginteractions.org)
There is little benefit from taking vitamins in larger amounts (usually by supplements).
There is also a small risk of developing vitamin toxicity.
This can happen after eating too much of a certain food or taking high dose vitamin or mineral supplements.
However, if you are struggling to eat a balanced diet and provide your body with enough nutrients from food, you should consider speaking with your GP, health worker or dietician about this.
This link has more information:
https://i-base.info/guides/side/diet-a-balanced-diet-and-your-health
So can I have phakamisa tablets?
Hello Johanna and thanks for getting in touch.
We specialise in information about HIV treatment.
Are you living with HIV? What ARVs are you on?
Please check with a pharmacist if all this medication should be combined with the specific supplement.
We advise against supplements as they are not tested or regulated.
I have already bought Cardi zoom, but I take highblood pressure pills, sugar diabetes pills, thyroid pills, have asthma
Am I safe to carry on drinking this capsule, have bought them 5 days ago