Vitamin A and beta-carotene . Low levels of vitamin A and beta-carotene are associated with a decrease in T cells, says Dr. Lichtenstein, and supplementation will aid in the growth and reproduction of these immune cells. Research shows that when vitamin A levels are low, T-cell counts also take a beating. People who are HIV-positive but also have normal levels of vitamin A will be more likely to have a higher count of T cells. The problem is that when vitamin A is taken in very high doses, it may speed the replication of the virus rather than slow it down.
Alternative practitioners pay close attention to the amount that s given.
Vitamin A has been shown to slow the progression of HIV to AIDS when taken in moderate doses of 10,000 to 20,000 IU daily. To get around the risk of accelerating virus replication, practitioners often prefer to recommend beta-carotene rather than vitamin A, says Dr. Lichtenstein. The total counts of several essential blood factors were measured at the beginning of the study, at the end of four weeks, and finally, six weeks later. Dr. Kowalsky recommends taking 50,000 to 200,000 IU of beta-carotene . But we all need it, because selenium helps maintain a strong immune system.