Q and A

Question

Can I take supplements when I’m HIV positive?

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

40 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Floxy, yes you can take these together. There is no risk of interaction between TLD and either/both of glutathione and vitamin c.

  2. Floxy

    Please can I take glutathione ivs, Perfectil tablets and vitamin c while taking ARV(TLD)

  3. Simon Collins

    Hi Mary, there is no interaction with HIV meds and these types of skin products. There is also little data to show whether or not the claims made my these products work – but that is a different Q :)

  4. Mary

    Hi I’m HIV positive. I take DTG can I take hydrolyzed collagen 1000+?

  5. Simon Collins

    Hi Bonnie – thanks – and great you are doing so well. As with most supplements I don’t think there is any good evidence that collegen powder will ddo anything good for you. Please ask your doctor too perhaps.

  6. bonnie

    Hi there, I’m living with hiv for 3years and I’m also taking treatment so I would like to find out if is it safe to take collagen powder everyday?

  7. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Fuziswa, SlowMag contains both magnesium and calcium. When given in doses found in supplements, these minerals can interact with HIV treatment.

    There is a risk that the minerals will reduce how much HIV treatment is absorbed by the body making them work less well.

    To avoid this it is recommended that you take these at opposite ends of the day e.g., ARVs in the morning and SlowMg in the evening. This is a long enough time between treatments to prevent any risk of any interaction.

  8. Fuziswa

    Can i used Slow Mag while you are on Arv treatment

  9. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Perex, yes you can take glutagenc supplements while on LTE. There is no interaction between them.

  10. Perex

    Can I take glutagenc suplements for whitening while I am taking LTE medication..

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