Selenium supplementation of symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infected patients.
The mean whole blood selenium levels in male San Diego, CA patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AiDS) are 0.123 +/- 0.030 micrograms/mL (n = 24), and 0.126 +/- 0.038 micrograms/mL (n = 26) in patients with AIDS-related complex (ARC), compared to 0.195 +/- 0.020 micrograms/mL (n = 28) in San Diego healthy controls (males). To establish whether intestinal absorption of dietary selenium is impaired in AIDS or ARC, a supplementation trial was conducted in which 19 symptomatic HIV-antibody positive male patients with AIDS or ARC were taking 400 micrograms of selenium/d in form of selenium yeast for up to 70 d. The mean whole blood Se levels increased to 0.28 +/- 0.08 micrograms/mL after 70 d of supplementation, the selenium supplements were well tolerated. A rationale for adjuvant selenium supplementation of symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV carriers is proposed.
Olmsted
L
L
Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
Schrauzer
G N
GN
Flores-Arce
M
M
Dowd
J
J
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000097:blood; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy; D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D012643:Selenium