A Randomized Trial to Optimize Skeletal Muscle While Reducing Adiposity in Veterans With HIV

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying Veterans who have HIV and obesity, focusing on a condition called myosteatosis, where excess fat builds up in and around muscles. This fat buildup can lead to problems like reduced physical function, frailty, disability, and diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. The study aims to evaluate a new combined approach to improve muscle health and reduce fat in these Veterans using diet, supplements, and exercise. The study tests a multi-part intervention that includes replacing saturated fats in the diet with unsaturated fats, taking L-carnitine and omega-3 fatty acid supplements, and doing specific resistance exercise training. Participants are randomly assigned to one of four groups: a control diet high in unsaturated fat, diet plus omega-3 supplements, diet plus L-carnitine supplements, or diet combined with both supplements. This approach is designed to improve muscle fat metabolism, reduce muscle breakdown, and lower insulin resistance and inflammation. Participants will be involved for 44 weeks, with assessments at weeks 24 and 44 to measure muscle fat content, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and physical function. Researchers will use tests including mixed meal glucose tolerance tests and physical function evaluations. The study will monitor changes in muscle quality, metabolic health, and exercise capacity to understand the effects of the combined intervention on Veterans living with HIV and obesity.

A Study to Improve Skeletal Muscle in Veterans With HIV