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Selenium

Selenium Deficiency and Ebola Virus

During the spring of 1995 Ebola virus created havoc in the African nation of Zaire. Researchers studying the ebola virus found many similarities between it and the HIV virus. For example, like HIV, Ebola has the potential to create several proteins requiring selenium. However, in the case of Ebola, the selenium content appears much higher than in HIV. It could be as much as ten times higher. (17)

According to Dr. Taylor, the Ebola virus behaves very much like HIV. When selenium levels in infected cells drop, Ebola reproduces and aggressively searches for cells with more selenium, spreading the infection throughout the body.

The population of Zaire was found to be deficient in selenium (may be because the soil in this country is deficient in selenium.) This may partially explain why both HIV virus and Ebola virus are rampant in Zaire. Normal immune defenses against the virus is handicapped by selenium deficiency.

Selenium Reduces Bacterial Blood Poisoning

When selenium was used in large dosages with other antioxidants such as vitamins C and E it was found to reduce the hospital-induced sepsis (bacterial blood poisoning) and acute respiratory distress syndrome by 50 percent. (18)

Next Topic: Natural Sources for Selenium

References

17. Taylor, E. W., and Ramanathan, C. S., "Theoretical Evidence That the Ebola Virus May Be Selenium-Dependent: A Factor in Pathogenesis and Viral Outbreaks?," Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, 1995; 10 (3-4): 131-138.

18. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 20:139-43, 1996.