Published online February 1, 2006
PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 2 February 2006, pp. e216-e225 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-1668)
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus...

Effect of Maternal Multivitamin Supplementation on the Mental and Psychomotor Development of Children Who Are Born to HIV-1–Infected Mothers in Tanzania

Nuala McGrath, ScDa, David Bellinger, PhDb, James Robins, MDc,d, Gernard I. Msamanga, MD, ScDe, Edward Tronick, PhDf and Wafaie W. Fawzi, MB, BS, DrPHa,d

a Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
b Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
c Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
d Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
e Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
f Maternal and Child Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts

OBJECTIVES. To determine the association between maternal multivitamin supplementation and the mental and psychomotor development of children who are born to HIV-1–infected mothers in Tanzania, as secondary endpoints in a randomized trial that investigated the effect of maternal multivitamin supplementation on HIV-1 vertical transmission and progression.

METHODS. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 2nd Edition, were administered at 6, 12, and 18 months of age to a subset of children (N = 327). We assessed the effect of vitamin A and multivitamin (vitamins B, C, and E) supplementation using linear regression models and Cox proportional hazard models for the Mental Development Index, the Psychomotor Development Index, and raw scores separately.

RESULTS. Multivitamin supplementation was associated significantly with a mean increase in Psychomotor Development Index score of 2.6 (95% confidence interval: 0.1–5.1). Multivitamins were also significantly protective against the risk for developmental delay on the motor scale (relative risk: 0.4; 95% confidence interval: 0.2–0.7) but not on the Mental Development Index. Vitamin A supplementation had no significant effect on these outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS. Maternal multivitamin supplements provide a low-cost intervention to reduce the risk for developmental delays among infants who are born to HIV-positive mothers in developing countries.

Key Words: multivitamins • mental development • psychomotor development • supplementation • children • Tanzania

Abbreviations: LBW—low birth weight • BSID-II—Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 2nd Edition • MDI—Mental Development Index • PDI—Psychomotor Development Index • ESR—erythrocyte sedimentation rate • CI—confidence interval • SES—socioeconomic status

Accepted Aug 2, 2005.