In the US, approximately 60% of HIV patients use various forms of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM).[131] Despite the widespread use of CAM by people living with HIV/AIDS, the effectiveness of these therapies has not been established.[132] A 2005 Cochrane review of existing high-quality scientific evidence concluded: "There is insufficient evidence to support the use of herbal medicines in HIV-infected individuals and AIDS patients."[133] Acupuncture has only been proposed for symptomatic relief, but not to treat or cure HIV or AIDS.[134]
Vitamin or mineral supplementation has shown benefit in some studies. Daily doses of selenium can suppress HIV viral burden with an associated improvement of the CD4 count. Selenium can be used as an adjunct therapy to standard antiviral treatments,[135] but cannot itself cure the infection. More evidence is needed before it can be established that selenium supplementation reduces mortality rates. There is some evidence that vitamin A supplementation in children reduces mortality and improves growth.[136] A large Tanzanian trial in immunologically and nutritionally compromised pregnant and lactating women showed a number of benefits to daily multivitamin supplementation for both mothers and children.[136] Dietary intake of micronutrients at RDA levels by HIV-infected adults is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).[137] The WHO further states that several studies indicate that supplementation of vitamin A, zinc, and iron can produce adverse effects in HIV positive adults.[137]
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