Selenium Helps Suppress HIV Load

MIAMISupplementation with high-selenium yeast may help decrease viral load in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), while also increasing levels of beneficial CD4 T cells in the immune system (Arch Intern Med, 167:148-54, 2007). Researchers from the University of Miami and Florida International University screened 450 HIV-1-seropositive men and women, initiated treatment in 262 and had 174 complete the nine-month follow-up assessment. The double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial assessed the effect of 200 µg/d of selenium on HIV-1 viral load and CD4 count.

Intention-to-treat analyses indicated mean change in serum selenium concentration increased significantly in the selenium-treatment group; greater selenium levels predicted a decreased HIV-1 viral load, which predicted increased CD4 count. Follow-up analyses found nonresponding selenium-treated subjects had poor treatment adherence. Selenium-treated subjects whose serum selenium increase was greater than 26.1 µg/L had excellent treatment adherence, no change in viral load and increases in CD4 count.

The researchers concluded daily selenium supplementation could suppress the progression of HIV-1 viral burden, improving CD4 count, supporting use of the supplement as a simple, inexpensive and safe adjunct therapy in HIV spectrum disease.