The role of nutrition and micronutrients in paediatric HIV infection.

It has been postulated that micronutrients play a role in the pathogenesis of HIV disease. Though data are sparse, there is evidence that HIV-infected adults and children have a range of micronutrient deficiencies with increasing severity in advanced disease and in the presence of malnutrition. It appears that micronutrient deficiencies contribute to immune dysfunction, infectious morbidity and disease progression. Limited interventive studies suggest that vitamin and mineral supplementation is beneficial to HIV-infected adults and children; however, current, regimens are not evidence-based and there are no randomised controlled trials in children. There are a number of African studies under way addressing these issues.