Posted on November 29, 2001 at 3:20 p.m.
BIRMINGHAM, AL — The School of Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has received a $1.4 million grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research to study the effect of diet and exercise on lipodystrophy, a common side effect of HIV drug therapies that results in the redistribution of fat and weight loss.
“Although drug therapies for HIV/AIDS have improved greatly over the last decade, the side effects of these new therapies can be physically and emotionally difficult for individuals already coping with a serious illness,” says Barbara Smith, Ph.D., professor of nursing at UAB.
Lipodystrophy results in fat loss from the face, arms and legs and fat gain in the belly. Some also develop fatty lumps on their shoulders called buffalo humps. Aside from the physical changes, there are also non-visible symptoms of lipodystrophy that are even more serious. “With the centralizing of fat, individuals often develop insulin resistance, high blood sugar and high cholesterol, which can lead to other life-threatening diseases,” says Smith.
The UAB study will look at diet and exercise as drug-free way of managing symptoms associated with lipodystrophy. The study, which will begin in January, will follow 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. Following the study, the diet and exercise program will be offered to all participants at no charge.
“Diet and exercise regimens will be tailored to fit the specific needs of the individuals depending on whether their goal is to lose, maintain or gain weight,” says Smith. “Exercise will be closely supervised and gradually increased over time. Following the first 16 weeks, we hope participants will have established a daily exercise routine that they will continue on their own.”
The study will be conducted as part of a larger ongoing investigation of lipodystrophy. “The National Institutes of Health is committed to supporting collaborative efforts between ongoing clinical trials and nursing research,” says Smith. “By joining forces nurses can conduct clinical research at less expense while expanding the scope of research projects and limiting the burden placed on participants.”
This study will enroll participants who are completing one of two ongoing related studies. “After completing the study they are currently participating in, individuals may elect to participate in this study,” says Smith. “The marriage of the ongoing and new studies will allow us to take advantage of shared resources and will provide other researchers and participants with additional follow up.”
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.
NOTE: The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a separate, independent campus from the University of Alabama, which is located in Tuscaloosa. Please use the University of Alabama at Birmingham on first reference and UAB on second reference.