Selenium May Reduce Bacterial Infection in HIV Patients

Selenium May Reduce Bacterial Infection in HIV Patients

MIAMI--The risk of developing mycobacterial disease, which is significantly increased in those with HIV-1, may be reduced by increasing selenium intake, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (29, 2:169-73, 2002) (www.jaids.com). Researchers from the University of Miami School of Medicine compared 12 cases of mycobacterial disease with 32 control cases who were matched for age, sex and HIV status, and discovered that plasma selenium levels less than 135 mcg/L were 13 times more likely to develop an infection than those with higher selenium levels. Researchers concluded that selenium may play a significant role in reducing the development of mycobacterial disease.