Osteoporosis Among HIV Patients Focus of UAB-Tuskegee Nursing Study

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has received a three-year $150,000 grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research to expand an ongoing study of the effect of diet and exercise on lipodystrophy, a common side effect of HIV drugs that results in the redistribution of fat and weight loss. Now, the study also will look at the effect of diet and exercise on reducing loss of bone mass, osteopenia or osteoporosis, among individuals with HIV.

February 13, 2003

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has received a three-year $150,000 grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research to expand an ongoing study of the effect of diet and exercise on lipodystrophy, a common side effect of HIV drugs that results in the redistribution of fat and weight loss. Now, the study also will look at the effect of diet and exercise on reducing loss of bone mass, osteopenia or osteoporosis, among individuals with HIV.

“Although we’re not sure why, osteoporosis is more prevalent among individuals with HIV than it is among the general population,” said Barbara Smith, Ph.D., professor of nursing at UAB and lead investigator for the study. “We believe that exercise and diet, in addition to its other health benefits, may help to prevent bone loss or at the very least, slow bone loss among these individuals. We also want to ascertain that it is safe for individuals who have HIV and osteopenia or osteoporosis to perform certain weight-bearing and resistance exercises.”

The study’s added funding and focus provided for the establishment of a new research partnership between UAB’s School of Nursing and the School of Nursing at Tuskegee University. “The purpose of the partnership is two-fold: to foster a greater interest in nursing research among our colleagues at Tuskegee and to provide nurse scientists there with hands-on research training,” said Smith. “In turn, their participation and insight is of great value to the research studies they help direct.”

Geneva Turner, Ph.D., professor of nursing at Tuskegee, is the study’s new co-investigator and devotes two days a month to working with her counterpart at UAB. “Although other departments at Tuskegee are heavily involved in research, the focus of the School of Nursing largely has been on education and service,” says Turner. “This new partnership with UAB will allow us to strengthen and expand our research efforts.”

Over a three-year period, the study will enroll and follow a total of 84 men and women, ages 18 to 60, for 32 weeks. Half of the individuals will participate in a diet and exercise program for the first 16 weeks. Volunteers now also will receive bone imaging scans to measure bone density at the outset and conclusion of the study. “Images will be taken of the lower spine and heads of the femoral bones in the thighs,” said Smith. “These are the two places most affected by osteoporosis.”

Diet and exercise regimens are tailored to fit the specific needs of participants based on their weight goals. “Exercise is closely supervised and gradually increased over time,” said Smith. “Following the first 16 weeks, we hope participants will have established a daily exercise routine that they will continue on their own.” Those not initially assigned to participate in the diet and exercise program, may do so following their initial participation in the study.

Other UAB researchers collaborating on the study are Dr. Kenneth Saag, associate professor of medicine with the Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, and Dr. Michael Saag, professor of medicine with the Division of Infectious Diseases.

For more information about this or other research studies being conducted by UAB’s School of Nursing, contact the UAB Center for Nursing Research at (205) 934-2153.