The essential trace mineral, selenium, is of fundamental importance to human health. As a constituent of selenoproteins, selenium has structural and enzymic roles, in the latter context being best-known as an antioxidant and catalyst for the production of active thyroid hormone.

Selenium is needed for the proper functioning of the immune system, and appears to be a key nutrient in counteracting the development of virulence and inhibiting HIV progression to AIDS.

It is required for sperm motility and may reduce the risk of miscarriage. Deficiency has been linked to adverse mood states. Conditions involving oxidative stress and inflammation have shown benefits of a higher selenium status.

An elevated selenium intake may be associated with reduced cancer risk.

Large clinical trials are now planned to confirm or refute this hypothesis. In the context of these health effects, low or diminishing selenium status in some parts of the world, notably in some European countries, is giving cause for concern.

Lancet July 15, 2000 356(9225):233-41

Journal Royal Society Medicine January 2002 (1):57

COMMENT By JOSEPH G. HATTERSLY

HIV-fighters worry about resistance to AIDS drugs. 1 Meanwhile, ten studies showed declining levels of the micronutrient selenium (Se) in blood plasma or serum of persons with HIV or AIDS. 2, 3 In one such study of 125 HIV-1-seropositive drug-using men and women, the lower the serum selenium, the sooner they died. 4

Will Taylor, PhD (University of Georgia), explains. Given adequate oral Se, the HIV retrovirus produces selenoproteins. These act as brakes on HIV’s reproduction: a private "birth-control pill." Unable to reproduce, the virus could become harmless. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

The HIV-1 rate, as high as 36 percent in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, is only 1.77 percent in Senegal. 15 Harold Foster, PhD (University of Victoria), proposes why Se deficiency causes AIDS [16] and explains. Senegal’s environment is ideal for operation of the human immune system.

Its food chain provides a constant ample supply of calcium, magnesium, [17] and selenium -- which is highly protective against cancer [18] as well as HIV-1. Senegal "is a desiccated Cretaceous and early Eocene sea. Calcium phosphate derived from selenium-rich phosphorites is mined for fertilizer." [19] Senegal’s education campaign [20, 21] provides the illusion of protection, but similar programs fail where soils are Se-deficient, like Botswana [22, 23] and Uganda. 24

Coconut oil, [25, 26] vitamins B12 and E-complex, [27] N-acetyl-cysteine, [28] and vitamin B6 [29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34] also strengthen defense against AIDS. These nutrients and 200-250 micrograms daily of chelated selenium might work much better than expensive (but profitable) one-dimensional AIDS drugs with their resistance and side effects.

These nutrients might also improve the immune systems of typical Africans, wracked by multiple other infections. [35, 36] And there can be no doubt that the same approach would probably benefit patients with HIV or AIDS in America and anywhere else.

References:

1. Haney DQ. Drug-resistant HIV infects half of Americans treated. Seattle Post-Intelligencer 2001; Dec 19:A4.

2. Dworkin BM. Selenium deficiency in HIV infection and the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Chem Biol Interact 1994;91;2-3:181-186.

3. Gladyshev VN, Stadtman TC, Hatfield DL, Jeang KT. Levels of major selenoproteins in T cells decrease during HIV infection and low molecular mass selenium compounds increase. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1999;96;3:835-839.

4. Campa A, Shor-Posner G, Indacochea F, Zhang G, Lai H, Asthane D, Scott GB, Baum MK. Mortality risk in selenium-deficient HIV-positive children. Jour Acquired Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol 1999; 20; 5: 508-513.

5. Taylor EW, Bhat A, et al. HIV-1 encodes a sequence overlapping env gp41 with highly significant similarity to selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidases. J. AIDS Hum Retrovirol. In press.

6. Dworkin BM. Selenium deficiency in HIV infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Op. cit.

7. Gaby AM, Wright JM. Interview on Bland JS, Funct Med Update 1997; Apr.

8.] Altavena C, Dousset B et al. Relationship of trace element, immunological markers, and HIV-1 infection progression. Biol Trace Elem Res 1995; 47:133-138.

9. Passwater RA. Vitamin connection. More exciting research from Dr. Will Taylor. Selenium against viruses. Whole Foods 1996; 19; 11:133-138.

10. First International Symposium on Human Viral Diseases: Selenium, Antioxidants and Other Emerging Strategies of Therapy and Prevention. April 19-21, 1996. Nonnweiler, Germany. Int Antiviral News 1996; 4; 5: 84-86

11. Taylor W. Selenium and viral diseases: Facts and hypotheses. Computational Center for Molecular Structure and Design. Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Georgia.

12. Look MP, Rockstroh JK et al. Serum selenium and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase in human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection. Trace Elem Res 1996, in press.

13. Taylor EW, Nadimpalli RG, Ramanathan CS. Genomic structures of viral agents in relation to the biosynthesis of selenoproteins. Biol Trace Elem Res. Symposium Volume.Schrauzer G, Montagnier L, eds. In press.

14. Wright JV, Gaby AM. Interview on Bland JS, Funct Med Update 1997; Apr.

15. Harvard AIDS Institute web page http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hai/interactive/map-africa.html.

16. Foster HD. AIDS and the "selenium-CD4 T cell tailspin." The geography of a pandemic. Townsend Ltr Doctors/Patients2000; Dec: 94-99.

17. Wright JV. Dr. Jonathan V. Wright’s Nutrition & Healing 2001 (June); 8;6: 5-8.

18. Howe MG. International variations in cancer incidence and mortality in Global Geocancerology: A World Geography of Human Cancers (Ed. Howe G.M.). NY: Churchill Livingston, 1986: 3-42.

19. Foster HD. AIDS and the "selenium-CD4 T celltailspin." Op. cit.

20. Simmonds A. Senegal puts the lid on Aids and now has the best results in Africa. Johannesburg Independent 2001; Mar 18 (From LosAngeles Times).

21. Alexandra Zavis, Seattle Post-Intelligencer;2001; Aug 12.

22. Personal communications, April 20, 2001.

23. AIDS in Botswana: A new approach. Economist 2001; Aug 11: 36-37.

24. AIDS: Unhappy anniversary. Economist 2001; Dec. 1: 76.

25. Wang LL, Johnson EA. Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes by fatty acids and monoglycerides. Applied and Environmental Microbiol 1992; 58; 2: 624-629.

26. Health Vectors, PPNFHealth Journal 1997; 21;2:6-7.

27. Levander OA, Ager AL, Beck MA. Vitamin E and selenium: Contrasting and interacting nutritional determinants of host resistance to parasitic and viral infections. Proc Nutr Soc 1995; 54; 2: 475-487.

28. Notter HS, Moelans II, de-Vos NM, de Graaf L, VisserMR, Verhoef J. N-acetyl-cysteine-induced upregulation of HIV-1 gene expression in monocyte-derived macrophages correlates with increased NF-KB DNA binding activity. J Leukocyte Biol 1997; 61;1:33-39.

29. Willis-Carr JI, St. Pierre RL. Effects of vitamin B6 deficiency on thymic epithelial cells and T lymphocyte differentiation. J Immunol 1978;120:1153-1159.

30. Baum MK, Mantero-Atienza E, Shor-Posner G et al. Association of vitamin B6 status with parameters of immune function in early HIV-1 infection. J Acquired Immune Defic Syndr 1991;4:1122-1132.

31. Willis-Carr JI, St. Pierre RL. Effects of vitamin B6 deficdiency on thymic epithelial cells and T lymphocyte differentiation. Opl. cit.

32. Lake-Bakaar G, Quadros E, Beidas S, et al. AIDS gastropathy: Gastric secretory failure. In: Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on AIDS. Stockholm, Sweden, 1988:7113.

33. Middleton HM. Intestinal hydrolysis in pyridoxal 5’-phosphate in vitro and in vivo in the rat. Effect of protein binding and pH. Gastroenterology 1986;91:343-350.

34. Mitchell D, Wagner C, Stone WJ, Wilkinson GR, Schenker S. Abnormal regulation of plasma pyridoxal 5’ phosphate in patients with liver disease. Gastroenterology 1976;71:1043-1049.

35. Duesberg, Peter H, PhD. Inventing the AIDS Virus. NY: Regnery, 1996.

36. Lancet 2001; Dec 8; 358: 1989-1992.