Great strides have been made to reduce the number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related deaths, but the war against HIV is far from over. From 1981 to the present, human immunodeficiency virus, the etiological agent of AIDS, has unwaveringly killed an estimated 39 million individuals (Mehta and Fawzi, ; WHO ; UNAIDS, 2013). Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has become more affordable and accessible in recent years, allowing those infected with HIV to obtain this life-saving treatment. Nevertheless, patients still suffer immune dysfunction and are at high risk for opportunistic infections. Nutrition in the form of vitamin supplementation has been shown to improve host immune response and post-treatment status. Additionally, vitamin supplementation enhances the quality of life for those battling HIV-associated morbidities, both physically in terms of improved body mass index (BMI) and immune markers and psychologically by improving symptoms of depression. Nutritional status and micronutrients, particularly vitamin A, as well as B-complex, C, D, and E vitamins, modulate the pathogenesis of HIV infection and AIDS progression in infected adults, pregnant or postpartum women, and children. Including vitamin A as an adjuvant in HIV vaccines for HIV transgenic rat models (Yu and Vajdy, 2011) has also shown promising results. What is yet to be determined is the particular combination of supplement composition and dosage for each target population that will yield the greatest prevention and treatment benefits; evidence from observational studies and randomized controlled trials is contradictory. This chapter presents an overview of recent studies that have focused on nutrition, with an emphasis on vitamin A, in individuals with HIV/AIDS.
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