Are Fat Changes Rooted in Your Genes?

Changes in body fat and elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are common adverse side effects of antiretroviral therapy for some HIVers, but researchers now say your genetic makeup may make you prone to the conditions. Study and poster presentations at the 13th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections explored the link between certain genes, the metabolization of antiretroviral drugs, and lipodystrophy. All of the research suggested that variations in key genes can boost lipodystrophy risks, sometimes significantly. One study also linked a genetic variation to an increased risk of insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. The researchers say that tests for gene variations could someday help doctors identify patients most at risk for drug-related lipodystrophy, but that such developments are likely still many years away, AIDSmap.com reports.