[procaare] Selenium may Help Lower HIV Levels

["Reuters Health" <procaare@healthnet.org>]

Selenium may help lower HIV levels
By Karla Gale, Reuters Jan 22, 2007
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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Selenium supplements can slow the rise in virus 
levels in  HIV-positive patients, which allows the number of beneficial CD4 
immune cell to increase, according to results of a clinical trial supported 
by grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Low blood levels of selenium have been linked to high HIV virulence and more 
opportunistic infections, Dr. Barry E. Hurwitz and associates at the 
University of Miami in Florida report in the Archives of Internal Medicine. 
In lab experiments, the element suppresses HIV-1 replication.

Even when antiretroviral therapy (ART) is widely available, failure to keep 
the virus suppressed "is relatively common, due to the complexity and 
toxicity of the drugs," Hurwitz told Reuters Health. "Something like 
selenium is stable in the blood stream and may prevent 'viral escape'."

In their study, Hurwitz's team randomly assigned some 260 HIV-infected 
adults with no other major diagnosis to take 200-milligram capsules of 
inactive yeast (placebo) daily or 200-milligram capsules of high-selenium 
yeast. The researchers used selenium-enriched yeast (Selenomax, Nutrition 21 
Inc.) because it contains high concentrations of organic, bioavailable forms 
of selenium.

After 9 months, viral load had increased by 10,000 to 20,000 
copies/milliliter in the placebo group. Viral load was unchanged in the 
group on selenium supplementation, Hurwitz said, and CD4 cell counts 
increased.

The researchers identified 50 "selenium responders," whose blood levels of 
selenium rose significantly more than the average.

These responders tended to have greater adherence as determined by 
computerized electronic medication-monitoring caps compared with 
nonresponders, although some subjects with excellent compliance failed to 
absorb selenium.

Considering just the 50 selenium responders, their viral load actually 
decreased on average by 10,000 copies/milliliters, Hurwitz noted. Levels 
among nonresponders did not differ significantly from those in the plain 
yeast group.

The investigators conclude that selenium supplementation may represent "a 
simple, inexpensive, and safe adjunct therapy" to antiretroviral medications 
for HIV.

Hurwitz added that some stores sell the selenium-enriched yeast, with a 
2-month supply costing about $15. However, consumers must be careful, he 
added, because many forms of selenium that are sold are not absorbed into 
the blood stream.

He also remarked on the potential impact that selenium supplementation could 
have in parts of world where soil is deficient in selenium, and people 
generally can't get enough from their food. "Selenium supplements could have 
very rapid and beneficial effects on HIV-infected individuals in those 
circumstances," he said.

SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, January 22, 2007
Online: via Yahoo news 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070123/hl_nm/selenium_hiv_dc_1