Table 1.

Randomized controlled trials on vitamin A and HIV progression.

Reference	Population, in- and exclusion criteria.	Intervention and follow-up	Primary outcomes	Major findings	Conclusions
Fawzi 1998 [22,23,24]	Tanzania, 1078 ART naïve pregnant women.	Multifactorial design with Vit. A (5000 IU) and β-carotene (30 mg) daily during pregnancy and lactation.	Mortality, CD4 count and viral load.	No differences in mortality, CD4 count or viral load among women or children. Vit. A increased MCTC.	Vit. A does not reduce mortality among women but increased MTCT.
Fawzi 1999 [18]	Tanzania, 58 ART naïve children admitted with pneumonia.	Dose vit. A (400,000 IU) at baseline, 4 and 8 months.	Mortality	Reduced overall and AIDS related mortality. Reduction on diarrhea related death.	Vit. A reduces mortality among children admitted with acute infections.
Coutsoudis 1999 [20]	South-Africa, 728 ART naïve pregnant women.	Vit. A (5000 IU), β-carotene (30 mg) third trimester and vit. A (200,000 IU) at delivery.	MCTC, fetal and infant mortality.	No reduction in MCTC, fetal or infant mortality. Reduction in preterm delivery.	Vit. A administered to the mother does not affect fetal or infant mortality or MCTC.
Kumwenda 2002 [21]	Malawi, 697 ART naïve pregnant women.	Vit. A (3 mg) daily from 18-28 weeks of gestation until delivery.	MTCT, birth weight.	Increase in birth weight and a reduction of the number of anemic children. No effect on MTCT.	Vit. An administered to the mother increases birth weight and prevents anemia. No effect on MTCT
Semba 2005 [19]	Uganda, 181 ART naïve children.	Vit. A (60 mg) every three months for 18 months.	Mortality, CD4 count, HIV viral load.	Reduction in mortality. No effect on CD4 count or viral load.	Vit. A reduces mortality among children.

MTCT = mother to child transmission