Vitamins and Minerals for Health (Part 2)
How Much Do I Need?
You might think that all you need to get enough vitamins and minerals is to take a multivitamin once a day. Unfortunately it is not so simple. The amount of micronutrients in many of these pills are based on the recommended dietary amount (in English Recommended Dietary Allowance or RDA) established by the U.S. government.
The problem is that the amount established by the RDA does not represent the amount required for HIV-positive people, but that is the minimum amount needed by healthy people to prevent deficiencies.
HIV disease and some medications may decrease the levels of some micronutrients. One study showed that HIV-positive people need 6 to 25 times more of some nutrients. Still, a high potency multivitamin is a good way to get basic micronutrients.
What nutrients are important?
There has been insufficient research in HIV-positive people on this issue. However, one study showed that a multivitamin supplement had significant benefits in pregnant women in Tanzania. In addition, many nutrients interact with each other. Most nutritionists believe in designing a comprehensive program of supplements.
People with HIV may benefit from taking supplements of vitamins and minerals as follows:
* B Vitamins: Vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and folate (folic acid).
* Antioxidants, including beta carotene (the body breaks down beta-carotene to vitamin A), selenium, vitamin E (tocopherol) and vitamin C.
* Magnesium and Zinc