title: A longer time of exposure to antiretroviral therapy improves selenium levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Selenium is an essential mineral for immunological function, performing crucial functions at the cellular level. This micronutrient has been determined to be frequently deficient in HIV infected patients, with correlations between reduced immunological function and greater susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Our aim was to evaluate the influence of time of exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the biochemical profile of selenium in HIV-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional study on 50 HIV-positive men with different quantitations of viral load and CD4+ T cells, who were either receiving or not receiving ART. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to determine body composition, biochemical analysis of selenium and albumin, anthropometric measurements were performed. The subjects were divided into groups according to the use of ART or not: The Control Group (CG) was 10 treatment-naïve volunteers, Group G < 2 was 20 volunteers on ART for less than 2 years, and Group G > 2 was 20 volunteers on ART for >2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The body mass index showed that all subjects were of normal weight. The group with a longer time of exposure to ART (G > 2) had undetectable viremia and a higher CD4+ T cell count: 593.1 ± 234.6 mm(3). Selenium values (μg/L) were 55.9 ± 11.9 for CG, 52.1 ± 10.5 for G < 2, and 66.9 ± 20.8 for G > 2, with a significant difference between groups G < 2 and G > 2 (p < 0.05), and only G > 2 showed normal selenium values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the men studied showed selenium deficiency, except for the subjects with a longer exposure to antiretroviral treatment. Thus, an adequate selenium concentration is related to better control of virology and of immunologic function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Foods and Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo - UNESP, Brazil. Electronic address: erikagmm7@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Erika Grasiela Marques
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: de Menezes Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses and Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo - FCFRP/USP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Barbosa
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Júnior
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo - FMRP/USP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alcyone Artioli
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo - FMRP/USP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anderson Marliere
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Navarro
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D018977:Micronutrients; D012643:Selenium
keywords: Antiretroviral therapy; HIV; Selenium deficiency