The effect of periconceptional multivitamin supplementation on postnatal development was studied in a randomised controlled trial comparing the use of a multivitamin tablet (Elevit Pronatal) with a tablet containing trace elements as part of the Hungarian Optimal Family Planning Programme. Of 4122 liveborn infants, 3356 were examined after the eighth month of life and medical records were obtai...

The objective of this study was to determine whether vitamin supplementation during long-term (36 wk) ingestion of olestra supplemented with vitamin E could prevent decreases in vitamin E, vitamin A, and carotenoids. This was a 36-wk study of 37 healthy males randomly assigned to consume a control diet composed of 33% energy from fat, a similar diet in which one third of the energy from fat had...

BACKGROUND Infections are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Micronutrients have important functions in the body's immune system. This systematic review examined the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on whether multivitamin and multimineral supplementation is effective in reducing infection. METHODS Electronic databases searched: Cochrane Controlled Trials Regi...

BACKGROUND Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by medically unexplained persistent or reoccurring fatigue lasting at least 6 months. CFS has a multifactorial pathogenesis in which oxidative stress (OS) plays a prominent role. Treatment is with a vitamin and mineral supplement, but this therapeutic option so far has not been properly researched. MATERIAL AND METHODS This prospectiv...

BACKGROUND The pattern of weight gain during pregnancy among HIV-infected women is largely unknown. Multivitamin supplementation was shown to be effective in preventing adverse pregnancy outcomes among HIV-positive women. These protective effects could be mediated in part by an improvement in the pattern of gestational weight gain. OBJECTIVE We examined the effects of multivitamin and vitamin...

BACKGROUND Use of multivitamin supplements during the pre-HAART era has been found to reduce viral load, enhance immune response, and generally improve clinical outcomes among HIV-infected adults. However, immune reconstitution is incomplete and significant mortality and opportunistic infections occur in spite of HAART. There is insufficient research information on whether multivitamin suppleme...

BACKGROUND Multivitamins are frequently consumed by children, but it is unclear whether this affects the risk of allergic disease. OBJECTIVE We sought to study the association between multivitamin supplementation and allergic disease in 8-y-old children. DESIGN Data were obtained from a Swedish birth cohort study. Information on lifestyle factors, including use of vitamin supplements, envir...