There has been some media attention in recent months on studies that purportedly showed that taking a multivitamin (or multivitamin plus B-complex plus vitamin C) could actually do more harm than good.

This seems to turn everything I know about HIV nutrition on its head. I'm not on ARVs yet; however, I take a multivitamin and also a B-complex (with vitamin C) if I'm exercising vigorously. However, a friend who has recently started taking meds doesn't (won't) add a multivitamin to his daily pill burden. He does eat pretty healthily.

How do I convince him, if at all, that taking a daily multivitamin is good, not harmful, especially since he's taking ARVs?

Thanks!

To be honest with you, there is little data on vitamin deffiencies in the era of HAART. We had several studies prior to 1996 that definitely showed defficiencies in many nutrients (selenium, carnitine, B-12, etc). Having said that, I still believe that antioxidants may help anyone, HIV+ or negative. One of the problems in the vitamin field is that there are very few standard tests to measure deficiencies.

I personally take a vitamin B complex (100 mg of each) once a day, 2000 mg of Carnitine (I believe my perfect lipids in 25 years of HIV have a lot to do with this), 100 mg of Q-10 ( a small study showed increases in stamina and quality of life), selenium (three studies show some benefits in immune function in those with deficiencies), and Zinc/copper (for skin health and immune function)

Dr Jon Kaiser has a complex that he tested in a small study againts placebo with some encouraging results. You may want to explore more about it in http://www.k-pax.us/index.html

There will never ne enough evidence on vitamins and HIV. We have basically no studies going on in this field since there are no patents to go after.

You may want to read this good article that Michael Mooney, co-author of my book and nutritional expert, wrote a few years ago: http://www.medibolics.com/Vitamins2.htm

I hope this helps!

Nelson