Selenium supplements could slow AIDS

Increasing the production of naturally-occurring proteins that contain selenium in human blood cells slows down multiplication of the AIDS virus, according to findings outlined in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Researchers first isolated blood cells from healthy human volunteers who did not have HIV, and infected those cells with the virus. Next, they added tiny amounts of a selenium compound - sodium selenite - into the cell culture to see the effect on viral replication.

Results indicate that the addition of selenium inhibits the replication of HIV at least 10-fold, compared to cell cultures in which no selenium is added. Conversely, when the researchers selectively reduced production of the selenium-containing TR1 protein, they observed a 3.5-fold increase in viral replication.