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Aids virus breakthrough
Benedict Moore-Bridger28.11.08
SCIENTISTS may have found a new weapon in the battle with the Aids virus, it was revealed today.
Increasing the production of naturally occurring proteins that contain selenium in blood cells slows down the virus's multiplication, biochemists said. Selenium is a micronutrient that the body needs to maintain normal metabolism.
K. Sandeep Prabhu, assistant professor of immunology and molecular toxicology at the US's Penn State University, said: "Our results suggest a reduction in [HIV] by at least 10-fold."
Reader views (1)
This is NOT a breakthrough, the relevance of Selenium in dramatically slowing the advance of HIV has been known for years. The reason it gets no press is that selenium is cheap to produce or even free to obtain via specific food sources. Of course the drug companies will not print the success of selenium - it will cost them billions!
- Mark, China
