IAS: Exercise of benefit for lipodystrophy

Aerobic exercise and weight training can help improve the physical and metabolic symptoms of lipodystrophy, according to a small study conducted in Chicago and presented to the Third International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment in Rio de Janeiro. The investigators, from the University of Illinois, designed a 16-week training programme involving running on a treadmill three times a week for 20 minutes, and using weights to train all the major muscle groups twice a week.

A total of five HIV-positive individuals, who were taking antiretroviral and had lipodystrophy, were recruited to the study.

Aerobic fitness and strength were measured on entry to the study and after 16 weeks. In addition, blood tests were performed to assess the impact of exercise on triglyceride levels and insulin sensitivity, and individuals had body scans to determine the effect of exercise on visceral fat in the abdominal area and trunk adipose mass.

Three times a week individuals exercised on a treadmill at 70% - 80% of their VO_2max aerobic capacity (click here to find out how to calculate this). Exercise at this level improves cardiovascular fitness and burns fat.

In addition, individuals followed a twice-weekly resistance training programme which involved seven groups of exercises working each of the major muscle groups.

At the completion of the programme, the investigators noted that mean cholesterol values had dropped by a mean of 59mg/dl, there had been a 2% mean reduction in visceral abdominal adipose tissue, that trunk adipose mass had fallen by 993mg and that there had been a 16% improvement in insulin sensitivity.

The investigators were encouraged by these findings, concluding that their “data suggest that exercise may ameliorate HIV antiretroviral metabolic abnormalities”, and suggesting that their findings justify a larger randomised controlled trial.