Use of a Nutritional Supplement to Treat Diabetic Symptoms in HIV-Infected Adults

Insulin resistance occurs when blood glucose levels get too high for the body to respond. Certain anti-HIV drugs are associated with increased insulin resistance and may lead to abnormal fat distribution, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The dietary supplement chromium picolinate has been shown to safely improve insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with no serious side effects. However, the effects of the supplement have not been thoroughly examined in HIV-infected individuals. This study will determine the effectiveness of chromium picolinate in improving insulin resistance in HIV-infected individuals.

This study will last 2 months. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either chromium picolinate or placebo once a day for 2 months. Participants will have four overnight visits at the research center and two additional daytime visits for safety monitoring. During the overnight visits, participants will undergo a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, in which a continuous infusion of insulin is given through a vein and glucose levels are monitored through blood samples taken every 5 to 10 minutes. Fat tissue biopsies will also be conducted at the overnight study visits. During the safety monitoring visits, blood collection will occur for kidney and liver function tests, CD4 count, and viral load assessment.

Inclusion criteria

• HIV infected
• Currently taking an anti-HIV drug regimen
• Insulin Resistant:fasting glucose between 5.56 and 7mmol/L and/or two hour post-glucose load between 7.78 and 11.11mmol/L

Exclusion criteria

• Cancer
• Acute illness that would interfere with the study
• Hypogonadism
• Hypothyroidism
• Untreated hypertension
• CD4 count less than 300 cells/mm3
• Viral load greater than 35,000 copies/ml
• Untreated hepatitis C virus infection
• Pregnancy
• Diabetes