[pronut-hiv] Nutrition Supplementation for HIV+ pregnant/lactating women

["Neisha DSouza" <goaninfantcare@hotmail.com>]

Hello!

My name is Kelly Bellomy and have been recently introduced to ProNut by my 
partner in the Goan Infant Care Foundation, Neisha D'Souza.  Our work here 
in Goa, India, focuses on providing care and support to HIV positive women 
and newborns. We are continuing to train those directly involved with this 
segment of the HIV population on proper infant care, feeding and nutrition.  
We have seen a marked intrest in food-based incentives from local NGO's, 
PLWHA's and hospital staff.

I am currently providing training to VCT, PPTCT and NGO counselors on 
nutrition for PLWHA's.  One area of focus is nutrition for pregnant/ 
lactating HIV positive women.  I have found in all my reasearch that there 
is a relationship between micronutrient supplementation and vertical 
transmission as well as increases in maternal viral load.  Vitamin A and 
Iron supplementation has shown both benefits and drawbacks in HIV positive 
women and their newbons.

My questions to all of you:
Has there been any reasearch (particularly after 2001) that indicates which micronutrients should be compensated for in reagrds to HIV positive women?

Risks exsist in iron and vitamin A multivitamin supplementation, does an 
increase in foods rich in these nutrients impose the same risk?

Which micronutrients are benefical to HIV+ pregnant/lactating women at the 
different stages of pregancy and post delivery?

I appreciate all the guidence and support we continually recieve from the 
participants of ProNut.  Any and all advice is welcomed!

Best of luck to all of you!
Kelly Bellomy