title: Selenium levels in persons with HIV/tuberculosis in India, Madurai City.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Selenium plays a vital role in the immune status of the individual. The prospective observational study was conducted from September 2009 to March 2010. The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between serum selenium levels and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients with (n = 40) and without HIV (n = 40) in comparison to healthy controls (healthy family members; n = 20) who satisfied rigid selection criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard methods were adopted to collect an early morning fasting blood sample for serum selenium concentrations, determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), and albumin, determined by the bro mocresol green method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean +/- SD for Body Mass Index (BMI), selenium, and albumin among the controls, HIV positive, and HIV negative patients were 19.6 +/- 0.6, 18 +/- 0.4 and 18.5 +/- 0.6 kg/m2; 113.1 +/- 4.1, 27.44 +/- 8, and 65.92 +/- 9, microg/dL; and 4.1 +/- 0.6, 2.9 +/- 0.4 and 3.6 +/- 0.7 g/dL, respectively. BMI, serum selenium, and albumin levels were found to be significantly lower (p < 0.004, p < 0.0321, and p < 0.002, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low serum selenium levels are associated with increased risk of pulmonary infection caused by mycobacteria.
authors.affiliation: Tuberculosis Research Centre, Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, India.
authors.forename: Kuppamuthu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shenbagarathai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kavitha
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thirumalaikolundusubramanian
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rathinasabapati
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium