Objectives: We assessed the effect of selenium and zinc supplementation on CD4 cell count and the risk of developing opportunistic infections.Methods: In a double blind clinical trial, 146 HIV(+) patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy with CD4(+) >200/cubic millimeter were screened for comorbidities and opportunistic infections, and randomized to receive daily selenium (200 µg), zinc (50 mg) or placebo for 6 months, before a 3-month follow-up period. CD4 cell counts were measured in the 3th, 6th and 9th months. The serum selenium and zinc were measured in the 6th month. The incidence of opportunistic infection was assessed monthly for 6 months and at the end of the 9th month.Results: The final incidence of supplement deficiency for placebo, zinc and selenium were 46.7%, 44.7% and 50.0%, respectively. Overall compliance with supplementation was 99.42%. Although the changes from baseline were not statistically significant, zinc supplementation was significantly associated with reduced risk of opportunistic infections.Conclusion: Development of the opportunistic infections after zinc supplementation significantly decreased; however, significant improvement in CD4 count was not observed in this group.
Keywords: AIDS; HIV; Selenium; lymphocyte count; zinc.