title: How HIV-1 causes AIDS: implications for prevention and treatment.
abstract: HIV-1 encodes for one of the human glutathione peroxidases. As a consequence, as it is replicated, its genetic needs cause it to deprive HIV-1 seropositive individuals not only of glutathione peroxidase, but also of the four basic components of this selenoenzyme, namely selenium, cysteine, glutamine, and tryptophan. Eventually this depletion process causes severe deficiencies of all these substances. These, in turn, are responsible for the major symptoms of AIDS which include immune system collapse, greater susceptibility to cancer and myocardial infarction, muscle wasting, depression, diarrhea, psychosis and dementia. As the immune system fails, associated pathogenic cofactors become responsible for a variety of their own unique symptoms. Any treatment for HIV/AIDS must, therefore, include normalization of body levels of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, selenium, cysteine, glutamine, and tryptophan. Although various clinical trials have improved the health of AIDS patients by correcting one or more of these nutritional deficiencies, they have not, until the present, been addressed together. Physicians involved in a selenium and amino-acid field trial in Botswana, however, are reporting that this nutritional protocol reverses AIDS in 99% of patients receiving it, usually within three weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, University of Victoria, PO Box 3050, Victoria BC, Canada V8W 3P5. hfoster@office.geog.uvic.ca
authors.forename: Harold D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003545:Cysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D005973:Glutamine / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine; D014364:Tryptophan; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005978:Glutathione; D012643:Selenium; D003545:Cysteine