Smith Fawzi M.C., Kaaya S.F., Mbwambo J., Msamanga G.I., Antelman G., Wei R., Hunter D.J., Fawzi W.W.
Program in Infectious Disease and Social Change, Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 641 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
Smith Fawzi, M.C., Program in Infectious Disease and Social Change, Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 641 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, United States; Kaaya, S.F., Department of Psychiatry, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mbwambo, J., Department of Psychiatry, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Msamanga, G.I., Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Antelman, G., Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Wei, R., Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Hunter, D.J., Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Fawzi, W.W., Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to examine the effect of vitamin supplementation on health-related quality of life and the risk of elevated depressive symptoms comparable to major depressive disorder (MDD) in HIV-positive pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: From April 1995 to July 1997, 1078 HIV-positive pregnant women were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. We examined the effects of vitamin supplementation on quality of life and the risk of elevated depressive symptoms, assessed longitudinally every 6-12 months. Results: A substantial prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms (42%) was observed in HIV-positive pregnant women. Multivitamin supplementation (B-complex, C and E) demonstrated a protective effect on depression [relative risk (RR) = 0.78; P = 0.005] and quality of life [RR = 0.72 for social functioning (P = 0.001) and vitality (P = 0.0001); RR = 0.70 for role-physical (P = 0.002)]; however, vitamin A showed no effect on these outcomes. Conclusions: Multivitamin supplementation (B-complex, C and E) resulted in a reduction in risk of elevated depressive symptoms comparable to MDD and improvement in quality of life in HIV-positive pregnant women in Tanzania. © 2007 British HIV Association.