Selenium deficiency in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Area of Science:

• Clinical Nutrition
• Immunology
• Trace Element Metabolism

Background:

• Severe protein-calorie malnutrition is prevalent in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
• Nutritional deficits in AIDS can exacerbate immune dysfunction and hinder recovery from infections.
• Selenium deficiency is linked to immune impairments like oral candidiasis and reduced phagocytic function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate selenium status and other nutritional parameters in patients with AIDS.
• To compare nutritional markers between AIDS patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Assessed selenium levels using a spectrofluorometric method in plasma, whole blood, and red blood cells.
• Measured serum albumin and weight loss in 12 AIDS patients and 27 healthy controls.

Main Results:

• AIDS patients exhibited significantly lower plasma, whole blood, and red blood cell selenium levels compared to controls (p < 0.001).
• Mean weight loss in AIDS patients was 35.5 pounds, with significantly lower serum albumin levels (p < 0.01).
• A strong positive correlation was observed between serum albumin and plasma selenium levels (r = 0.77; p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Selenium deficiency is a common finding in the malnutrition associated with AIDS.
• Aggressive nutritional support, specifically addressing selenium status, should be integrated into AIDS patient therapy.
• Optimizing selenium levels may support immune function and recovery in individuals with AIDS.