Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B12 (various)
For the health condition: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is sometimes used in the management of patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), but its use is not as a direct treatment for HIV infection or AIDS itself. Rather, the rationale is to address or prevent vitamin B12 deficiency, which is relatively common in individuals with HIV/AIDS due to malabsorption, poor dietary intake, or other comorbid conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract. B12 deficiency in this population can contribute to anemia, neuropathy, and cognitive disturbances, which overlap with some manifestations of advanced HIV disease.

A small number of studies from the 1980s and 1990s observed that low B12 levels were associated with faster disease progression and increased mortality in HIV-positive individuals. Supplementation in deficient patients has been shown to correct anemia and sometimes improve neurologic symptoms. However, there is no strong evidence that B12 supplementation alters the course of HIV infection or AIDS itself in patients with normal B12 levels. Systematic reviews and guidelines recommend B12 supplementation only in the context of documented deficiency. Therefore, while there is scientific rationale for correcting deficiency, there is no robust evidence for B12 as a treatment to directly support immune function in AIDS.

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