Evaluation of a low- dose nonoxynol-9 gel for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases: a randomised clinical trial, Sex Transm Dis 2001

Abstract

Objective: To assess the relation between selenium deficiency and vaginal or cervical shedding of HIV-1-infected cells. Design: Cross-sectional study of 318 HIV-1 seropositive women in Mombasa, Kenya. Methods: Vaginal and cervical swab specimens were tested for the presence of HIV-1 DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Multivariate logistic regression models, adjusting for CD4 count and vitamin A deficiency, were used. Results: Selenium deficiency (defined as levels <85 microg/L) was observed in 11% of the study population. In unstratified multivariate analyses, there was no significant association between selenium deficiency and vaginal or cervical shedding. In stratified analyses, however, significant associations became apparent after excluding women with predictors of shedding with strong local effects on the genital tract mucosa. Among women who did not use oral contraceptives and who did not have vaginal candidiasis, selenium deficiency was significantly associated with vaginal shedding (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0–8.8