HIV patients can lower blood-based triglyceride and cholesterol levels by switching from a protease inhibitor to Sustiva, Viramune, or Ziagen, but the change will not stop fat redistribution or improve blood sugar levels, researchers report in the June 10 edition of the journal AIDS. A study of 90 patients shows switching drugs results in a significant increase of HDL'or good'cholesterol levels and a decrease in LDL cholesterol. But researchers also note that fat loss from the limbs was not halted or improved by switching to nonnukes or Ziagen. Sugar levels and insulin resistance showed minimal improvements.
The researchers say ongoing fat loss might have occurred because most of the study subjects were also taking Zerit, which has been linked to lipoatrophy. They recommend additional studies to see how patients respond to removing both protease inhibitors and Zerit from their regimens.
