The effects of yeast selenium on cd4 t cell count of non -institutionalized HIV type 1 positive orphan children at Orongo widows and orphans in Kisumu Kenya

Abstract

Background: Multi drug resistance HIV has emerged rendering the current conventional treatment of HIV ineffective. There is a need for new treatment regime which is cheap, effective and not prone to res istance development by HIV . Methods: In randomized cli nical study of 68 HIV positive children 3 – 15 years to asses the efficacy of yeast selenium in HIV/AIDS patients, 50μ yeast selenium was administered to 34 children while in matched c ontrol of 34 were put on placebo. Blood samples of the both groups whic h were taken every 3 months intervals up to 6 months, were analyzed by ELI S A for CD4T cells, the data was analyzed by SPSS version 16. Results: No significant difference in age { χ 2 (1, 62) =0.03, p =0.853}, cause of morbidity between test and controls {χ 2 ( 1, 65) = 5.87, p= 0.015} and on condition of foster parents {χ 2 ( 1,63) = 5.57, p= 0.0172} was observered. Children on selenium showed progressive improvement of WAZ and significant difference at six months{F (5,12) = =5.758, P=0.006}, and weight gain of up to2.5kilograms in six months, and significant CD4 T cell count increase t = - 2.943,p< 0.05 compared to matched controls t = - 1.258 p> 0.05. CD4 T cell count increased among all age groups on test 3 - 5years (+ 267.1),5 - 8 years( +200.3) 9 - 15 years ( +71.2) cells/mm 3 and in matched controls a decrease 3 - 5 years( - 71),5 - 8 years ( - 125) and 9 - 13years( - 10.1)cells/mm 3 . No significant difference in CD4 T cell count between girls {F (2, 32) = 1.531 p= 0.232} and between boys {F (2, 49) = 1.040, p= 0.361} on test and between boys and girls {F (5, 81) = 1.379, p= 0.241} on control was observed. Conclusion: From this study it can be concluded that administration of yeast Selenium led to slowing the progress of HIV 1 in children from WHO clinical stage I by i mproving CD4 T cell count and hence the immunity