Selenium Boosts Immunity in HIV Patients
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By VRP Staff
A new human trial has found that selenium decreases HIV viral load and increases levels of beneficial immune cells.
For the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, researchers screened 450 HIV-1–seropositive men and women and initiated treatment in 262 of those subjects. Of those treated, 174 completed the nine-month follow-up assessment.
The subjects were given high selenium yeast (200 µg per day) or a placebo. The scientists then assessed selenium’s effect on HIV-1 viral load and its effect on the CD4 immune cell count after 9 months of treatment.
Subjects consuming selenium had higher levels of the mineral than those consuming a placebo. Selenium-treated subjects who also had high levels of the mineral experienced decreased HIV-1 viral load and increased CD4 count. Follow-up analyses evaluating treatment effectiveness indicated that the non-responding selenium-treated subjects whose serum selenium change was less than or equal to 26.1 µg/liter did not adhere to the selenium supplementation protocol. In these subjects, HIV-1 viral load was elevated and CD4 count decreased. In contrast, selenium-treated subjects whose serum selenium increase was greater than 26.1 µg/L evidenced excellent treatment adherence, no change in HIV-1 viral load, and an increase in CD4 count.
According to the study authors, daily selenium supplementation can suppress the progression of HIV-1 viral burden and provide indirect improvement of CD4 count. The results support the use of selenium as a simple, inexpensive, and safe adjunct therapy in HIV spectrum disease.”
Reference:
Hurwitz BE, Klaus JR, Llabre MM, Gonzalez A, Lawrence PJ, Maher KJ, Greeson JM, Baum MK, Shor-Posner G, Skyler JS, Schneiderman N. Suppression of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Viral Load With Selenium Supplementation. A Randomized Controlled Trial. Archives of Internal Medicine. January 22, 2007;167(2):148-54.
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