Role of micronutrients in HIV-infected intravenous drug users

Nutritional deficiencies are widespread among HIV-1-seropositive male and female drug abusers (injecting drug users, or IDUs), among men who have sex with men (MSM), and among children, although the prevalence of nutritional alterations varies among the groups. Low levels of vitamin A, vitamin B-12, zinc, and selenium are common and have been demonstrated to be associated with disease progression and HIV-1 related mortality, independent of CD4 count <200 cells/mm(3) at baseline and CD4 count over time. When all nutrient factors that are associated with survival are considered together, only selenium deficiency is a significant predictor of mortality. The profound effect of selenium on disease progression may reflect selenium's action in antioxidant defense systems, as well as gene regulation.