Synopsis

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

Vitamin B12 supplementation in individuals with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is primarily justified by scientific reasoning, though the level of evidence supporting direct benefits to immune function or disease progression is limited. Vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively common in people living with HIV/AIDS, likely due to malabsorption, poor intake, or gastrointestinal complications. Deficiency in B12 can result in anemia, neuropathy, and cognitive disturbances—symptoms that can overlap with or exacerbate HIV-related conditions. Several observational studies have documented both a higher prevalence of B12 deficiency in HIV/AIDS patients and associations between low B12 levels and increased risk of disease progression and mortality. However, randomized controlled trials specifically evaluating B12 supplementation for improving immune function or slowing AIDS progression are lacking.

As a result, clinical guidelines recommend B12 supplementation for HIV/AIDS patients only when laboratory evidence of deficiency exists. Correction of deficiency can improve hematological and neurological symptoms but does not directly treat HIV infection or significantly modify the course of AIDS. The scientific support for routine B12 use in all AIDS patients (regardless of deficiency) is weak; its use is more about correcting a common comorbidity than treating the underlying immune deficiency. Therefore, B12 is used in HIV/AIDS management based on scientific understanding of deficiency consequences, but its role as a direct therapy for AIDS is not substantiated by strong clinical trial evidence.

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