Role of micronutrients in HIV-infected intravenous drug users

Nutritional deficiencies are widespread among HIV-1-seropositive male and f emale 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 co unt <200 cells/mm(3) at baseline and CD4 count over time. When all nutrient factors that are associated with survival are considered together, only se lenium deficiency is a significant predictor of mortality. The profound eff ect of selenium on disease progression may reflect selenium's action in ant ioxidant defense systems, as well as gene regulation.