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Mineral may help those worried about immune system after HIV testing

Category: General Health

HIV testing can help consumers learn whether or not they are at risk for the condition, which weakens one's immunity before it progresses into AIDS. Now, researchers say that supplementing one's diet with a mineral may help promote healthy immune system function.

Scientists have studied the effects of zinc in terms of its effects on the elderly, but a team from the University of Florida wanted to see if younger adults could also benefit.

They had study participants take zinc supplements, and then drew a sample of blood, testing it for levels of T-cells, the immune system's fighters.

Co-author Dr Robert Cousins said that more of the T-cells were activated in patients who had received the supplement, increasing the numbers of infection-fighting cells and improving their ability to combat disease.

While scientists are still working on treatments for those affected by the results of an HIV test, Dr John Wherry says that the results could lead to new therapies to improve immune systems, expanding the benefits of the mineral to populations other than the young and the elderly.