Selenium supplementation for HIV carriers

The Facts:
* 262 men and women with HIV-1 received high selenium yeast supplementation (200 µg/day) for 9 months in addition to an antiretroviral regimen.
* Supplementation led to an increase in serum selenium levels which were in turn associated with a reduction in viral load and an improvement in CD4 counts.
* Selenium was seen to be a useful addition to treatment in HIV patients.

Shaun’s comment: There were a number of interesting findings from this study. Compliance with study medication was only 73%, and this may be related to the large number of medications that patients with HIV usually have to take. Although it may seem obvious, it was important to see that selenium levels rose in those who took the selenium. It could have been that the selenium supplement was excreted straight away and it may not necessarily have increased blood levels. And so, despite the many medications people already take, it would be worth taking selenium as an additional safe and effective addition to the treatment regime.

Study reference:
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/167/2/148