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be explained, at least in part, by the inadequate selenium levels given injections of glutathione peroxidase and supplements of seen in such patients. selenium, cysteine, glutamine and tryptophan. In 1981, Bunk and Combs*’ described an experiment Unfortunately, geographers are not expected to develop new demonstrating that, in chickens, selenium deficiency impaired the disease-related hypotheses that have the potential for conversion of the S—amino acid methionine into cysteine. It is undermining genetic, biochemical and clinical authority. As a highly likely that this is true for humans. If it is, then, by result, I have been attempting to gain support for testing this encoding for the selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase, HIV-1 concept for more than two years. Given the enormous power of causes a deficiency of cysteine in infected individuals in two the pharmaceutical industry and its lack of interest in the distinct ways. Firstly, the virus removes cysteine directly from discovery of a cheap and simple treatment for HIV/AIDS, it has the body as it replicates. Secondly, it creates a selenium not been an easy row to hoe. To date, all I can point to are two deficiency which impairs the conversion of methionine to AIDS patients who quickly reversed their major symptoms when cysteine, so reducing the availability of the latter. Simply put, attempting to follow my suggested regime.” Beyond this, there HIV-1 both increases the demand for and reduces the supply of are research teams in South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana and cysteine in patients who are HIV-1 positive. Cysteine deficiency, Morocco who have contacted me to express a willingness to in and of itself, has been shown to be associated with depressed conduct such trials, should funding ever become available. glutathione, poor wound and skin healing, psoriasis, abnormal immune function and greater susceptibility to secondary CONCLUSIONS infections and cancers.” All these characteristics of cysteine Death from AIDS is a consequence of four nutritional deficiency are seen in HIV/AIDS patients. deficiencies. Fortunately, HIV infection does not need to be a Glutamine is a major nutrient required by rapidly proliferating death sentence because such deficiencies are cheap and easy to cells and is of particular significance in the digestive tract. reverse. And while the four nutrients won't eradicate HIV, they Deficiencies cause abnormal intestine activate the virus's own "warning permeability and digestive malfunc- system", preventing its replication. tion, often associated with diarrhoea.” The genetic code of HIV includes a Glutamine is also a favourite with homologue for the essential human body-builders, who use it in large selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase. quantities to promote muscle growth. Having inadequate selenium Paradoxically, this viral requirement It is not surprising that muscle protein and cysteine undermines the for selenium generally appears to wasting, therefore, is a symptom of 4 . restrict infection to individuals who, glutamine inadequacy. Both diarrhoea Immune system ina process because of a diet deficient in selenium and muscle wasting are characteristics that is accelerated by other or because of prior infection by other of HIV/AIDS.” . . selenium-encoding pathogens, are Tryptophan deficiencies, in and of infectious pathogens. deficient in this trace element. themselves, have led to major health Unfortunately, the uman problems in the past. Probably the population is becoming ever more worst of these was pellagra, which susceptible to infection by HIV-1 (and HIV-2 to a lesser extent) as well as other selenoenzyme-encoding viruses developed in children eating diets high in corn. Maize is very deficient in tryptophan and so such children quickly developed pellagra, because of acid rain, which reduces the bioavailability of which is thought to be due to a co-deficiency of both tryptophan selenium. and its metabolite, niacin.” As a consequence of these two To be replicated, HIV must compete with its host for deficiencies, such individuals could not produce adequate glutathione peroxidase and its four constituent nutrients— nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and so developed pellagra. selenium, cysteine, glutamine and tryptophan. As a The symptoms of this disease were known as "the four Ds"— consequence, replication of the virus gradually depletes namely, dermatitis, diarrhoea, dementia and, ultimately, if not seropositive individuals of these substances. AIDS is the end treated effectively, death.“ AIDS patients commonly experience product of these nutritional declines, and most of its symptoms all such symptoms and also display inadequate levels of are caused by them. As a consequence, it is likely that AIDS can nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. This can be reversed, at least be easily reversed by correcting such deficiencies. in vitro, by the administration of nicotinamide.” To illustrate, glutathione peroxidase is one of the body's most It would appear, therefore, that corollary three is correct and significant antioxidants. A lack of this selenoenzyme therefore that the great majority of the symptoms of HIV/AIDS (with the accelerates free radical damage and oxidative stress. Beyond exception of those caused by opportunistic pathogens) are a this, having inadequate selenium and cysteine undermines the combination of symptoms seen in individuals who are extremely immune system in a process that is accelerated by other infec- deficient in glutathione peroxidase or in one or more of its tious pathogens. A deficiency of glutamine encourages muscle precursors. wasting and digestive malfunction, while a lack of tryptophan and the compounds it biosynthesises (such as niacin and sero- COROLLARY FOUR: HIV-1 Seropositive Individuals tonin) results in dermatitis, diarrhoea and various neurologic and Who Eat a Diet Elevated in Selenium, Cysteine, psychiatric symptoms including dementia. Supplementation with Glutamine and Tryptophan Should Never Develop the appropriate nutrients naturally reverses these symptoms. AIDS It is ironic, but not really surprising, that our continuous Obviously, the easiest way to test the truth or otherwise of this destruction of the global ecosystem is promoting the spread of fourth corollary would be to arrange for a double-blind, placebo- viral infections (and various chronic degenerative diseases) that controlled pilot study in which half the HIV/AIDS patients are threaten humanity's domination of the planet. given injections of glutathione peroxidase and supplements of selenium, cysteine, glutamine and tryptophan. Unfortunately, geographers are not expected to develop new disease-related hypotheses that have the potential for undermining genetic, biochemical and clinical authority. As a result, I have been attempting to gain support for testing this concept for more than two years. Given the enormous power of the pharmaceutical industry and its lack of interest in the discovery of a cheap and simple treatment for HIV/AIDS, it has not been an easy row to hoe. To date, all I can point to are two AIDS patients who quickly reversed their major symptoms when attempting to follow my suggested regime.” Beyond this, there are research teams in South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana and Morocco who have contacted me to express a willingness to conduct such trials, should funding ever become available. Having inadequate selenium and cysteine undermines the immune system in a process that i is accelerated by other ~f- afi... ab precursors. COROLLARY FOUR: HIV-1 Seropositive Individuals Who Eat a Diet Elevated in Selenium, Cysteine, Glutamine and Tryptophan Should Never Develop AIDS Obviously, the easiest way to test the truth or otherwise of this fourth corollary would be to arrange for a double-blind, placebo- controlled pilot study in which half the HIV/AIDS patients are NEXUS = 41 infectious pathogens. FEBRUARY — MARCH 2004 www.nexusmagazine.com