Researchers at Penn State have reported a form of the anti-oxidant mineral Selenium proves to reduce HIV viral load in vitro by 10-fold. Sodium Selenite was used in test tubes to prevent HIV from reproduce in human blood. Healthy volunteers donated blood. Later the blood was infected with HIV and small amounts of sodium selenite were added. Viral replication was reduced by 10-fold. Selective reduction of the selenium compound in the cells increased viral replication by 3.5 per cent. This suggests that incorporating a selenium compound into current HIV therapies could prove a valuable method of complementary anti-viral therapy.
Science Daily
