Clinical Study Title:
Effect of multivitamin and vitamin A supplements on weight gain during pregnancy among HIV-1-infected women.

Plain English Summary:

There is evidence supporting the benefits of using a multivitamin during pregnancy for all women, but especially women who are HIV-positive. This study looked at the role of multivitamins on weight gain among pregnant women who were HIV-positive. Women who met this criteria were placed into one of there different types of multivitamin supplements or given a placebo. They were regularly weighed and at the end of the pregnancy the weight gain over the last 2 trimesters was compared. The women in all three of the groups who received some form of multivitamin were able to maintain a healthy weight gain, while those women who took a placebo had smaller weight gain during the last trimester. This study suggests that the use of a multivitamin during pregnancy for women who are HIV-positive can help to maintain a healthy weight gain throughout the course of pregnancy.

Authors

Villamor E. Msamanga G. Spiegelman D. Antelman G. Peterson KE. Hunter DJ. Fawzi WW.

Institution

Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Country of Publication

United States

Source

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 76(5):1082-90, 2002 Nov.