Public Health and Nutrition

Biography

Biography: Regina Esiovwa Ahumareze

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiencies in people living with HIV (PLHIV) have been reported. Multivitamins can be used to address micronutrient deficiencies, however the benefits of multivitamins on health outcomes of PLHIV remain debateable. While some studies have reported the benefits of multivitamins in PLHIV, other studies have reported non-significant differences in outcomes of interest in control and multivitamin groups. With obvious differences in strength and composition of multivitamins used in the different studies, it is possible that the intervention (multivitamins) used for some of these studies may not have been dosed high enough to meet the level of micronutrient deficiencies in study participants resulting in non-significant results. It is possible that higher strength multivitamins may better meet existing micronutrient deficiencies resulting in better health outcomes in PLHIV. Hence we are currently conducting a double blind randomized controlled study in Lagos, Nigeria to compare three multivitamins. • Multivitamin A: Contains micronutrients at recommended daily allowance (RDA) • Multivitamin B: Contains 22 micronutrients at RDA • Multivitamin C:Contains 22 micronutrients at 3times the RDA The aim of this six months study is to determine if any of the three multivitamins will produce better health outcomes in study participants. Participants are HIV positive children aged 5 – 12 years. Primary outcome is changes in CD4 count, and secondary outcomes are changes in serum selenium and zinc levels. Baseline and midpoint samples have been collected and are being analysed. Final samples will be collected from December 2015 – January 2016. Results of this study will be presented at the conference.