Selenium Supplements May Slow HIV Progression

[Snowy Owl]

Selenium Supplements May Slow HIV Progression

http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/HIVAIDS/tb/4903

By Michael Smith, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
January 22, 2007

MIAMI, Jan. 22 -- Selenium supplements appear to slow the progress of HIV, according to interim results of a study conducted here.<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:P></O:P>

Action Points

• <LI class=APP>Explain to interested patients that selenium plays a role in the body's immune system and that deficiencies are associated with poor immune function.<O:P></O:P>
  
• Point out that this study suggests that selenium supplements may safely improve the immune function of patients with HIV.<O:P></O:P>

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In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, daily doses of selenium substantially increased serum levels of the metal and prevented increases in HIV viral load, found Barry Hurwitz, Ph.D., of the University of Miami.<O:P></O:P>

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Compared with those who taking a placebo, volunteers who got selenium also saw their CD4 cell count increase as an indirect result of good viral control, Dr. Hurwitz and colleagues reported in the Jan. 22 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.<O:P></O:P>

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"Given the challenges of using conventional pharmacotherapy to achieve and maintain virologic suppression," the researchers concluded, "our results support the use of selenium as a simple, inexpensive and safe adjunct therapy."
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One thing that isn't clear is how long the effect will last. Dr. Hurwitz and colleagues reported data from half way through the 18-month trial and said that the complete study will yield a better understanding of the duration of the effect.<O:P></O:P>

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The study is based on the observations that selenium appears to improve immune function and that the metal is often deficient in people with HIV, Dr. Hurwitz and colleagues said.<O:P></O:P>

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The researchers enrolled 262 HIV-positive patients, of whom 174 completed the nine-month follow-up assessment, 83 in the placebo group and 91 in the selenium group.
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Those in the selenium group received 200 mcg/day of the metal, in a high-yield yeast formulation.
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As in HIV therapy in general, adherence played a key role, the researchers said. Volunteers who were in the selenium group but did not achieve significantly higher serum levels of the metal were likely to skip their medication about 43% of the time, compared with about 14% of the time for responders.<O:P></O:P>

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As a result, the "non-responders" had selenium levels and HIV responses closer to the placebo group, Dr. Hurwitz and colleagues said.<O:P></O:P>
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The study found:<O:P></O:P>
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• There were no adverse effects related to the supplement.<O:P></O:P>
• Serum selenium concentration increased significantly in the selenium-treated group but not the placebo-treated group - an increase of 32.2 mcg/L versus 0.5, which was significant at P<0.001.<O:P></O:P>
• Greater levels of selenium (in the "responders") were significantly associated with decreased HIV viral load (at P<0.02), compared with controls, which correlated with a significantly increased CD4 count (at P<0.04).<O:P></O:P>
• Selenium "non-responders" did not differ from the placebo group in HIV levels and CD4 counts.<O:P></O:P>

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"The exact mechanism by which selenium exerts its effects on HIV-1 viral replication is not known," the researchers said.
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One possibility is that selenium -- an antioxidant -- may repair damage done to immune cells by reactive oxygen species, which are higher in people with HIV. Another, the researchers said, is that the metal may work directly on the HIV virion to suppress replication.<O:P></O:P>

<O:P></O:P><TABLE cellSpacing=0 bgColor=#a0d7f6 border=1 hspace="1"><TBODY><TR><TD>This study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and Nutrition 21 Inc., of Purchase, N.Y., contributed selenium and placebo material. The researchers reported no financial conflicts.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Additional HIV/AIDS Coverage

Primary source: Archives of Internal Medicine
Source reference:
Hurwitz BE et al. "Suppression of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Viral Load With Selenium Supplementation: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:148-154.<O:P></O:P>

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Selenium Supplements May Slow HIV Progression

Very interesting information, especially given that soils in many areas are selenium deficient....impacting both crops and livestock.

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