Low fat, low sugar diet may correct triglyceride problems in HIV

A small French study has found that reducing fat and

sugar intake may reduce dangerously high triglyceride levels in people with HIV

receiving protease inhibitor treatment.

20 patients with average triglyceride levels of 20

micomols/litre (the risk of pancreatitis increases dramatically when

trigylcerides rise above 10 mmol/l) followed low sugar, low fat diets

recommended by dietitians for six months. 85% experienced reductions to less

than 10 mmol/l (mean reduction 12.8mmol/l).

However, an Australian study found no relationship

between dietary fat intake and fat redistribution in people taking protease

inhibitors, despite substantial differences in fat intake between people taking

indinavir and people taking other protease inhibitors (which must be taken with

high fat meals).

Other studies presented at the Cannes meeting showed

that:

Atorvastatin, a lipid lowering drug, reduced total

cholesterol, and LDL (bad) cholesterol in 12 people taking protease inhibitors

after 8 weeks of treatment, taking people out of the danger zone for heart

problems induced by very high cholesterol levels.

Metformin, an anti-diabetes drug, can reduce insulin

resistance temporarily, but is not associated with reductions in fat

abnormalities after six months of treatment

Detailed reports from the Cannes Nutrition in HIV

Infection conference are available from the International Association of

Physicians in AIDS Care at <

href="http://www.iapac.org/nutritionidx.html">http://www.iapac.org/nutritionidx.html#cannes99

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and <

href="http://www.thebody.com/confs/nutrition99/nutrition99.html">http://www.thebody.com/confs/nutrition99/nutrition99.html

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