title: Selenium in the maintenance and therapy of HIV-infected patients.
abstract: Due to its antiviral effects and its importance for all immunological functions, the administration of selenium is suggested as a supportive measure in early as well as in advanced stages of HIV-induced disease. Initial observations on the effects of selenium supplementation in HIV-infected patients indicate that selenium causes symptomatic improvements and possibly slows the course of the disease. As selenium inhibits reverse transcriptase activity in RNA-virus-infected animals, supplemental selenium could also prevent the replication of HIV and retard the development of AIDS in newly HIV-infected subjects. An adequate supply of selenium and of antioxidant vitamins is also proposed as a measure to reduce the probability of the placental transmission of HIV in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, La Jolla 92093.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Schrauzer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sacher
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000188:drug therapy; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D014815:Vitamins; D012643:Selenium