{"id":567,"date":"2017-06-19T12:06:20","date_gmt":"2017-06-19T12:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/seleniumfacts.com\/?p=567"},"modified":"2017-06-19T16:18:05","modified_gmt":"2017-06-19T16:18:05","slug":"selenium-hiv-opportunistic-infections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seleniumfacts.com\/index.php\/selenium-hiv-opportunistic-infections","title":{"rendered":"Selenium and HIV and opportunistic infections"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Individuals infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) commonly have low selenium status. Selenium supplementation can prevent or delay the decline of immune system function and can protect against opportunistic infections. <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Selenium supplements \u2013 especially selenium supplements as a component of a multi-micronutrient cocktail \u2013 can help to delay the decline of the immune system and can reduce the risk of death in HIV-infected patients. \u00a0Most of the data that we have comes from randomized controlled studies carried out in African countries, but the results are relevant to the United States and Europe. \u00a0Moreover, the results from studies of HIV-infected patients speak to the issue of the anti-microbial protection and antioxidant protection that comes with adequate selenium status.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Selenium and HIV and CD4 counts<\/strong>
\nCD4 cells are white blood cells that are part of the immune system. \u00a0Specifically, the CD4 cells fight infections in the body. \u00a0The HIV virus kills CD4 cells. \u00a0When a person has fewer CD4 cells, he or she is at greater risk of contracting an infection.<\/p>\n

Consequently, CD4 cell counts give a good picture of how strong the immune system is. \u00a0When CD4 cell counts fall below a certain level in HIV-infected patients, then anti-retroviral therapy is indicated to slow the progression of the HIV infection to the AIDs disease.<\/p>\n

The Botswana study: selenium and HIV infection<\/strong>
\nProfessor Marianna K. Baum at Florida International University in Miami studies the relationship of nutrition and metabolism and HIV\/AIDS. \u00a0In 2013, Professor Baum and her research team reported the results of a randomized controlled study that enrolled 878 HIV-infected patients in Botswana who were not yet on the anti-retroviral therapy.<\/p>\n

The data from the study show that 24 months of daily supplementation with selenium and B vitamins and vitamins C and E significantly reduced the risk of immune system decline (as measured by CD4 cell counts) and morbidity. Professor Baum concluded that intervention with selenium<\/a> and multi-vitamins may be effective if the supplementation is started in the early stages of the HIV disease [Baum 2013].<\/p>\n

This is an especially interesting result because it comes from a study of HIV-infected patients who were not yet prescribed the anti-retroviral therapy that delays or prevents the progression of the HIV infection to the AIDS disease. \u00a0Please note that Professor Baum\u2019s study results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association<\/em> (JAMA).<\/p>\n

There seems to be a significant relationship<\/a> among the following variables:<\/p>\n