Effects of Mixed Exercise Regime and L-Carnitine Supplementation in HIV Patients on HAART (HIV)

December 17, 2012 updated by: University of California, Davis

Effects of Mixed Exercise Regime and L-Carnitine Supplementation on Kinetics of Triglyceride-rich Lipoproteins in HIV Patients on HAART

HIV patients treated with Highly Active AntiRetroviral Therapy (HAART) show significant metabolic symptoms, such as lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. A possible contribution to these symptoms in HIV/HAART is a decrease in mitochondrial function, resulting in a decreased fatty acid oxidation. A combined regime of aerobic and resistance training has been demonstrated to increase lean body mass and reduce overall fat and truncal fat and the levels of triglyceride and LDL cholesterol.

Study Overview

Status

Withdrawn

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The introduction of Highly Active AntiRetroviral Therapy (HAART) for AIDS and HIV has improved survival considerably. However, HIV patients treated with HAART show significant metabolic symptoms, such as lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. A possible contribution to these dysmetabolic symptoms in HIV/HAART is a decrease in mitochondrial function, resulting in a decreased fatty acid oxidation. Life style modulation such as aerobic exercise and L-carnitine supplementation may be beneficial to mitochondrial function. Aerobic exercise improves the biogenesis and function of mitochondria. A combined regime of aerobic and resistance training has been demonstrated to increase lean body mass and reduce overall fat and truncal fat and the levels of triglyceride and LDL cholesterol. L-Carnitine plays an important role in the transfer of long-chain acyl groups into the mitochondrial matrix and potentially improves energy metabolism. Further, L-carnitine supplementation decreases serum triglyceride levels in HIV/HAART patients with hypertriglyceridemia. However, little is known whether these life style modulations act synergistically in HIV/HAART patients.

We hypothesize that a mixed regimen of exercise (including both resistance and aerobic exercise) and L-carnitine supplementation will improve mitochondrial dysfunction in HIV/HAART patients, and therefore, alleviate dysmetabolic symptoms such as dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. In this randomized, placebo-controlled study, we will explore whether a mixed regimen of exercise, including both resistance and aerobic exercise, and L-carnitine supplementation affect lipids and remnant lipoproteins, adipokines, insulin resistance; blood lactate levels and VO2max; and kinetics of leucine and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins among African-American and Hispanic HIV-positive subjects undergoing HAART. Effects on muscle mitochondrial function will be assessed using exercise tests and body composition assessment (DEXA and Bioimpedance), while effects on hepatic mitochondrial function will be assessed measuring the relation between leucine and VLDL-apoB metabolism. We believe that the proposed study will help to elucidate underlying mechanisms for metabolic complications and will offer new possibilities for intervention to reduce negative metabolic effects in HIV/HAART patients.

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Sacramento, California, United States, 95814
        • CARES

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • African American, Hispanic and Caucasian adults with HIV on a stable HAART regimen (either PI or NNRTI based) for at least the past 6 months between 18 to 70 years of age.
  • Patients taking SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), SNRI's (Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake inhibitors) and Tetracyclic antidepressants will be included as the risk of seizure in these patients in combination with the L-Carnitine supplement would be rare. Patients on these medications should be on a stable dose for at least 4-6 months prior to enrollment in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Cushing's syndrome
  • Renal disease (i.e. CKD Stages 3-5)
  • Unstable liver disease
  • Untreated thyroid dysfunction
  • Seizure disorder
  • Patients with conditions that can lower seizure threshold (i.e. brain tumors) or are taking medication(s) known to lower seizure threshold
  • Pregnant or nursing mothers
  • BMI > 35
  • Ongoing hormone replacement therapy
  • Hemoglobin levels less than 11 g/dl, and fasting triglyceride levels > 500 mg/dl.
  • Subjects with ongoing hypolipidemic and warfarin therapy will be excluded. Additionally, patients taking Valproic Acid and / or Zidovudine will be excluded as these have been shown to deplete carnitine.
  • Patients taking Venlafaxine and Bupropion will be excluded as these medications have a small risk (0.26% and 0.1-0.4% risk, respectively) of causing seizure in patients without a previous risk of seizure.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: A
Dietary supplement: l-carnitine
3 gram daily dose

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Exercise and L-carnitine supplementation will reduce blood lactate levels, increase the VO2sub-max and the VLDL to leucine enrichment ratio in HIV/HAART patients, suggesting an overall improvement of muscle and hepatic mitochondrial function.
Time Frame: 6 weeks
6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of California, Davis

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Lars Berglund, MD, PhD, UC Davis Health System

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

July 1, 2008

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2010

Study Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 11, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 12, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

December 13, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

December 19, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 17, 2012

Last Verified

December 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 200715081

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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