Answers to Questions About Selenium and HIV

                                     What is selenium? Why is it essential for good health?

            Selenium is a mineral found in the soil and in all plants, animals, and foods. It is essential to life. Selenium is in every cell of the body forming the active part of glutathione-peroxidase (GPx) the universal antioxidant that helps keep every cell healthy and detoxified. Nutritionists refer to selenium as an essential trace element. Although found in tiny amounts, it is essential to health. Selenium is concentrated in the cells and organs of the immune system and affects all aspects of immune function. When total selenium levels in the body fall to 80% of normal, a person has immune deficiency. When it falls below 70%, a person dies.

How does selenium work against HIV?

            Selenium (Se) works against HIV disease by several mechanisms. Selenium supplementation is the most effective single way to treat HIV/AIDS besides ARVs. This does not eliminate the need for ARVs. Selenium should be used prior to starting ARVs and added to ARVs once antiretroviral therapy begins. Selenium is a natural antiviral but not nearly as strong as ARVs. Although selenium’s antiviral activity is weaker than ARVs, selenium alone is a stronger immune booster than ARVs alone. It is the strongest natural immune booster known to science. Supplementing selenium significantly above RDA dietary requirements causes the thymus to increase CD4 and reduce CD8 production. That switches immunity towards Th1 and away from a Th2 position. The way ARVs gradually increase CD4 count is by suppressing viral depletion of selenium allowing selenium levels to recover. Adding selenium to ARVs can increase CD4 count and improve CD4/CD8 ratios significantly faster than using ARVs alone. 

            Many scientists now understand the way the HIV virus causes AIDS is, in part, by draining selenium from the body. As HIV viral load increases, it uses up selenium the body needs to mount an adequate immune response. Every cell in the body needs selenium but the cells and the organs of the immune system require a higher level of selenium to do their job. As HIV increases, selenium declines. As selenium falls, CD4 cells falls too. CD4 counts rise again and CD4/CD8 ratios improve when selenium is supplemented.

Does selenium work like an anti-retroviral?

            Selenium is a natural broad-spectrum antiviral that boosts the ability of the body to fight most viral infections. It works by several mechanisms. First, it inhibits reverse transcriptase activity. Selenium also inhibits nuclear factor-kappa binding (NF-kB), the primary stimulant to HIV viral replication in the nucleus of the CD4 cell. Selenium also is a proven Tat gene inhibitor. Some scientists suggest it also inhibits intergrase. Yet compared to current highly effective anti-retroviral drugs, selenium is a relatively weak inhibitor of viral replication. Selenium provides it main benefit as an extremely potent immune booster. It can increase CD4 count rapidly.

When is the best time to use selenium to treat HIV or AIDS?

            Due to the high rate of HIV replication during initial HIV infection, selenium depletion occurs from the start. Since research shows just one 200mcg tablet of selenium can slow HIV progression by 43.8%, a person should start using selenium supplements as soon as they know they are infected. Selenium is the only vitamin or mineral scientifically proven to slow progression of HIV becoming AIDS. Selenium is even more critical in late-stage disease. Harvard University working with the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research showed that 200mcg of selenium added to a three-drug ARV therapy more than doubled the increase in CD4 count and tripled the increase in hemoglobin in advanced AIDS patients who had an average of 50 CD4 count, compared to those taking HAART therapy alone. Adding selenium significantly improved well-being and reduced hospitalizations, thus reducing costs. 

What is the proper dosage of selenium to treat HIV?

            In patients with CD4 counts above 400, 200mcg of selenium daily is sufficient. With CD4 counts below 400, 400mcg is suggested. In patients with less than 100 CD4 count, active opportunistic infections, or TB; 600mcg daily is suggested. Patients who are hospitalized with AIDS or who are in critical condition due to pneumonia, meningitis, encephalitis or other life-threatening conditions like sepsis or organ failure can safely take and should be given one milligram daily to quickly restore selenium levels and avoid mortality. This dosage is safe under life threatening conditions but should not be taken for longer than one month or long-term.

Does selenium affect opportunistic infections (OIs)?

Selenium supplements help prevent and treat almost all HIV-related opportunistic infections. OIs are due to a deficiency in CD4 cells and immune system incompetence. Selenium supplements work to quickly increase CD4 count and restore immune responses. This leads directly to a reduction in number and severity of opportunistic infections. Scientists have shown selenium to help against TB, Kaposi sarcoma (KS), muscle wasting, heart weakness, hypertension, depression, pneumonia, dementia, hepatitis B and C, pancreatitis, candidiasis (thrush), cancers, liver disease, skin problems, arthritis, diarrhea, multiple-organ-failure and sepsis. 

Is selenium a cure for AIDS?

            No. There is no cure for AIDS. No one can go from being HIV positive to HIV negative. Selenium is the only therapy proven to slow HIV progression besides ARVs. Once anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) are started, selenium should be added to improve therapy, reduce resistance, and extend good health and life. Selenium supplements are the icing on the cake of ARV therapy.

How safe is selenium? Can anyone take it?

            Selenium has no significant negative side effects. The most common side effects are improvements in appetite, energy, and mood, and occasionally some sleep disturbance. On the market for over fifty years, no one has ever died from overdosing on selenium tablets. Anyone can take selenium supplements to maintain or improve their health. There are no pharmaceutical contraindications so it can be taken safely with any other drug. It is best taken in the morning. Divided doses are not necessary.