Selenium, a trace mineral found in foods and the soil, may help to prevent replication of the HIV virus according to a results of a recent study funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Selenium is a necessary nutrient for many processes and reactions in the body, including the immune system. A deficiency in selenium can result in low immune function and susceptibility to infection. Previous lab studies have shown that selenium can suppress the replication of HIV in test tubes.
Based on this information, researchers at the University of Miami in Florida randomized 260 HIV infected adults to receive Selenium enriched yeast ( a well absorbed form of selenium) or inactive yeast (no selenium). They were given 200 milligrams per day for 9 months.
During the study period levels of the HIV virus in the blood, white blood cells counts, and levels of selenium were measured and compared between the two groups. The results of the study were published in the January issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
The researchers saw that the average viral load was unchanged in those randomized to the selenium yeast group, while the viral load increased in the placebo group. Even more interesting was the number of CD4 cells, the white blood cell attacked by HIV, actually increased in the selenium group compared to baseline.
Only about 50 of the participants in the selenium group saw an increase in serum or blood levels of selenium. This may be due to absorption issues. But in these persons whose selenium levels increased their viral load actually declined.
Selenium is a relatively low cost treatment alternative to use as an adjuct to anti-retroviral medications that can be very costly. It effectiveness in this study cannot be undervalued.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on January 24, 2007 03:55 PM
