Guest guest Posted May 6, 2007 Report Share Posted May 6, 2007 This article is interesting - if Selenium lowers viral load in people with HIV I wonder if it reduces viral load in those of us who suffer with the everyday viruses? I know that I escape most of the viruses in school that fell those fitter and stronger than myself. Selenium pills 'may combat HIV' Taking daily selenium supplements may block the build up of HIV in a patient's blood, research suggests. The University of Miami found a lower HIV viral load in patients who took selenium supplements for nine months. Selenium deficiencies have been recorded in HIV patients, and evidence suggests the mineral can improve the function of the immune system. The Archives of Internal Medicine study suggests the supplements may be a cheap and easy way to help keep HIV in check. This research suggests that selenium supplements may be useful in addition to traditional combination therapy Pebody Terrence Higgins Trust Advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART) have given HIV patients a longer life expectancy. However, strict adherence to the therapy is required to keep HIV viral counts low, and there is a risk of side effects. Therefore, scientists have been searching for alternative treatments to keep HIV under control. More immune cells Over nine months, the University of Miami team gave 91 HIV patients a daily capsule containing 200 micrograms of high-selenium yeast, and another 83 patients a daily placebo capsule. The two groups had similar selenium levels at the beginning of the study, but after nine months levels were higher in the group taking the capsules containing the mineral. Those with higher selenium levels in their blood were more likely to have a lower HIV viral load, and higher numbers of CD4 cells, which play a key role in fighting off infection. The researchers said the exact mechanism by which selenium exerts its effects on HIV is not known. One hypothesis is that selenium's antioxidant properties may repair damage done to immune cells by oxygen, which is produced at higher levels in the bodies of patients with HIV. Writing in the journal, the researchers said: " Given the challenges of using conventional pharmacotherapy to achieve and maintain virologic suppression in HIV-spectrum disease, our results support the use of selenium as a simple, inexpensive and safe adjunct therapy. " Pebody, of the HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust, said: " We have known for some time that selenium plays a role in the immune system, but previous studies before combination therapy didn't show that these supplements have an impact on HIV. " This research is more encouraging and suggests that selenium supplements may be useful in addition to traditional combination therapy. " However, we wouldn't advise that people with HIV should rush out and buy these supplements immediately. " Decisions on the value of taking supplements should always be made in consultation with your doctor. " Yusef Azad, director of the National Aids Trust, described the research as valuable. " However, in interpreting this new report, it must be remembered that antiretroviral therapy is the only currently effective treatment for HIV. " Selenium may have a supportive role alongside antiretroviral therapy but it cannot be a treatment in itself. " Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/6623631.stm Published: 2007/05/05 23:24:29 GMT © BBC MMVII ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2007 Report Share Posted May 6, 2007 We have been giving a family member something to improve his health not intending to worsen it and he was not prone to viral infections per se prior to part of this treatment plan. But one part of what we are giving is said (on it's write up) to have a predispostion to viral infections in some folks as one of it's potential side effect and it seems to be coming true as a side effect for this person. I must read to see if there is any connection of this to this article until I get to ask the persons doc about what might counteract this side effect if anything. So I thankyou for this article. Lee > > This article is interesting - if Selenium lowers > viral load in people with HIV I wonder if it reduces > viral load in those of us who suffer with the everyday > viruses? > I know that I escape most of the viruses in school > that fell those fitter and stronger than myself. > > > > > Selenium pills 'may combat HIV' > Taking daily selenium supplements may block the build > up of HIV in a patient's blood, research suggests. > The University of Miami found a lower HIV viral load > in patients who took selenium supplements for nine > months. > Selenium deficiencies have been recorded in HIV > patients, and evidence suggests the mineral can > improve the function of the immune system. > The Archives of Internal Medicine study suggests the > supplements may be a cheap and easy way to help keep > HIV in check. > This research suggests that selenium supplements may > be useful in addition to traditional combination > therapy > Pebody > Terrence Higgins Trust > Advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART) have given > HIV patients a longer life expectancy. > However, strict adherence to the therapy is required > to keep HIV viral counts low, and there is a risk of > side effects. > Therefore, scientists have been searching for > alternative treatments to keep HIV under control. > More immune cells > Over nine months, the University of Miami team gave 91 > HIV patients a daily capsule containing 200 micrograms > of high-selenium yeast, and another 83 patients a > daily placebo capsule. > The two groups had similar selenium levels at the > beginning of the study, but after nine months levels > were higher in the group taking the capsules > containing the mineral. > Those with higher selenium levels in their blood were > more likely to have a lower HIV viral load, and higher > numbers of CD4 cells, which play a key role in > fighting off infection. > The researchers said the exact mechanism by which > selenium exerts its effects on HIV is not known. > One hypothesis is that selenium's antioxidant > properties may repair damage done to immune cells by > oxygen, which is produced at higher levels in the > bodies of patients with HIV. > Writing in the journal, the researchers said: " Given > the challenges of using conventional pharmacotherapy > to achieve and maintain virologic suppression in > HIV-spectrum disease, our results support the use of > selenium as a simple, inexpensive and safe adjunct > therapy. " > Pebody, of the HIV charity Terrence Higgins > Trust, said: " We have known for some time that > selenium plays a role in the immune system, but > previous studies before combination therapy didn't > show that these supplements have an impact on HIV. > " This research is more encouraging and suggests that > selenium supplements may be useful in addition to > traditional combination therapy. > " However, we wouldn't advise that people with HIV > should rush out and buy these supplements immediately. > > " Decisions on the value of taking supplements should > always be made in consultation with your doctor. " > Yusef Azad, director of the National Aids Trust, > described the research as valuable. > " However, in interpreting this new report, it must be > remembered that antiretroviral therapy is the only > currently effective treatment for HIV. > " Selenium may have a supportive role alongside > antiretroviral therapy but it cannot be a treatment in > itself. " > Story from BBC NEWS: > http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/6623631.stm > > Published: 2007/05/05 23:24:29 GMT > > © BBC MMVII > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ > The fish are biting. > Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. > http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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