The enzymatic antioxidant system in blood and glutathione status in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients: effects of supplementation with selenium or beta-carotene

Abstract

To investigate the effects of selenium or beta-carotene supplementation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, who are known to have deficiencies of selenium and vitamin A, we evaluated the blood enzymatic antioxidant system, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), selenodependent glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (Cat); glutathione (GSH) status; and plasma selenium concentration. The placebo group consisted of 18 HIV-infected patients with no supplementation, the selenium group was composed of 14 patients receiving oral selenium treatment, and the beta-carotene group comprised 13 patients receiving oral beta-carotene supplementation. All groups were studied for 1 y. At the beginning of the study, a significantly higher SOD activity (P < 0.001) was observed in all HIV-infected patients compared with uninfected control subjects, and GPX activity at baseline was higher in the placebo (P < 0.004) and selenium (P < 0.014) groups than in the control subjects. These higher enzyme activities could be related to an increased synthesis of these enzymes in erythrocyte precursors under oxidative stress. Moreover, we observed significantly lower GSH values in all HIV-infected patients than in control subjects at the beginning of the study (P < 0.001). After selenium or beta-carotene supplementation, no significant difference was observed for SOD activity compared with baseline. On the contrary, GPX activity increased significantly after selenium treatment (P < 0.04 between 3 and 6 mo), whereas a slight increase was found after beta-carotene treatment. Similarly, a significant increase in GSH values was observed at 12 mo compared with baseline both after selenium supplementation (P < 0.001) and beta-carotene supplementation (P < 0.01). Because GPX and GSH play an important role in the natural enzymatic defense system in detoxifying hydrogen peroxide in water, selenium supplementation could be of great interest in protecting cells against oxidative stress. The lower efficiency of beta-carotene could be attributed to the seriousness of the pathology at the time of recruitment into the beta-carotene group.

Investigation of the levels of oxidative stress parameters in HIV and HIV-TB co-infected patients

“…The correlation between high MDA concentrations and low concentrations of some anti-oxidants suggests increased utilisation by ROS as an important contributing factor to the lower concentrations of anti-oxidants [35]. HIV-infected individuals have been reported to show decreased antioxidant concentrations, disruption in glutathione metabolism, and enhanced spontaneous generation of ROS [36][37][38]. Apart from the HIV-TB induced oxidative stress, malnutrition may also influence anti-oxidant status and oxidative stress in patients [39].…”

A community randomized controlled clinical trial of mixed carotenoids and micronutrient supplementation of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

“…It may be through the conversion of carotenoids to vitamin A in the face of deficiency, the independent antioxidant action of carotenoids that are absorbed unchanged or the altering of the pharmacokinetics of protease inhibitor anti-HIV drugs. Supplementation with b-carotene decreases the concentration of biological markers related to oxidative stress in HIV-seropositive persons (Delmas-Beauvieux et al, 1996;Constans et al, 1998). Interaction occurs between micronutrients and antiretroviral drugs (Toma et al, 2001;Foster et al, 2002), possibly affecting serum concentrations of antiretrovirals or micronutrients.…”

Oxidative stress in HIV positive children

“…17,18 Oxidative stress occurs when free radical production exceeds your body's ability to neutralize them. This imbalance happens when:…”

“…Moreover ROS can stimulate HIV replication through the activation of tumour necrosis factor. 17 Oxidative stress has emerged in recent years as a suspected component in the pathogenesis of HIV disease. When the balance between free radicals and antioxidant supply is tipped, resulting oxidative stress can cause many problems-either of its own, or in the case of HIV causing increased viral replication.…”