Lifestyle Modification and Metformin Use in the Treatment of HIV

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose A healthy diet and exercise have improved the health of people without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who have Metabolic Syndrome. In this study we would like to find out if the same benefit can be seen in people with HIV and Metabolic Syndrome. Patients with Metabolic Syndrome usually have a large waist, high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar levels. These are risk factors, which may increase one's chance of developing heart disease and/or diabetes. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of different methods of treating HIV associated Metabolic Syndrome. The groups are: 1) a lifestyle modification program plus metformin (also known as glucophage), 2) lifestyle modification plus placebo, 3) metformin alone or 4) placebo alone. The lifestyle modification program consists of nutrition and exercise sessions with the goal of improving body composition, heart health, and ways to lower the risk of developing diabetes.
ConditionHIV Infections
Metabolic Syndrome X
InterventionDrug: Metformin
Drug: Placebo
Behavioral: Lifestyle Modification
PhaseN/A
SponsorMassachusetts General Hospital
Responsible PartyMassachusetts General Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT00399360
First ReceivedNovember 13, 2006
Last UpdatedSeptember 13, 2012
Last verifiedSeptember 2012

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateNovember 13, 2006
Last Updated DateSeptember 13, 2012
Start DateDecember 2006
Estimated Primary Completion DateJune 2012
Current Primary Outcome Measures
  • Carotid Intima Media Thickness [Time Frame: baseline and 12 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]Carotid intima media thickness imaging of the common carotid artery was conducted using a high-resolution 7.5-MHz phased-array transducer (SONOS 2000/2500. The change of the carotid intima media thickness measurement between baseline and 12 months is reported.
  • Waist Circumference [Time Frame: baseline and 12 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]Iliac waist circumference measurements were obtained using an inelastic tape measure. All measurements were obtained in triplicate, with the patient undressed, and then averaged. The change of the waist circumference measurement between baseline and 12 months is reported.
  • High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) [Time Frame: baseline and 12 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]High density lipoprotein (HDL) was determined after an overnight fast. The change in HDL between baseline and 12 months is reported.
  • Glucose [Time Frame: baseline and 12 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]Glucose level was determined after an overnight fast. The change in glucose between baseline and 12 months is reported.
  • Systolic Blood Pressure [Time Frame: baseline and 12 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]Systolic blood pressure was measured after 5 minutes rest. The in systolic blood pressure between baseline and 12 months is reported.
  • Coronary Artery Calcium Score [Time Frame: baseline and 12 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]Computed tomography (CT) imaging was performed using a SOMATOM Sensation (Siemens Medical Solutions, Forcheim, Germany) 64-slice CT scanner. Agatston calcium score was calculated using CT images. The total Agatston score is calculated by summing up the scores of the individual calcifications in all slices of the CT scan. An absolute Agatston score of less than 10 indicates minimal overall atherosclerosis (plaques) in the coronary arteries. The change in the coronary artery calcium score between baseline and 12 months is reported.
Current Secondary Outcome Measures
  • C-reactive Protein [Time Frame: baseline and 12 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]High sensitivity C-reactive protein was determined by R&D Systems (Minneapolis, MN) kit. The change in C-reactive protein between baseline and 12 months is reported.
  • Abdominal Visceral Adiposity [Time Frame: baseline and 12 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]Abdominal visceral adipose area was assess by magnetic resonance imaging at the lvel of the L4 pedicle. The change in abdominal visceral adiposity between baseline and 12 months is reported.
  • Cardiorespiratory Fitness [Time Frame: baseline and 12 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]A submaximal exercise stress test was conducted on a cycle ergometer to measure endurance. Subjects cycled between 50-60 revolutions per minute and the workload was progressively increased in increments of 50 watts in stages lasting 3 minutes. Once subjects became fatigued or reached their submaximal heart rate (220-age x 85), the test was stopped and separate readings of heart rate and blood pressure were measured at 1, 3, and 5 min of recovery. Weight-adjusted maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max; ml/kg per minute) was determined. The change in cardiorespiratory fitness between baseline and 12 months is reported.
  • Intramyocellular Lipid [Time Frame: baseline and 12 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]Intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) of the tibialis anterior was determined using 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (Siemens, Munich, Germany). The change in the intramyocellular lipid measurement between baseline and 12 months is reported.

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitleLifestyle Modification and Metformin Use in the Treatment of HIV
Official TitleStrategies for the Treatment of HIV Associated Metabolic Syndrome
Brief Summary
A healthy diet and exercise have improved the health of people without human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who have Metabolic Syndrome. In this study we would like to
find out if the same benefit can be seen in people with HIV and Metabolic Syndrome.
Patients with Metabolic Syndrome usually have a large waist, high blood cholesterol levels,
high blood pressure, and high blood sugar levels. These are risk factors, which may
increase one's chance of developing heart disease and/or diabetes. The purpose of the study
is to evaluate the effects of different methods of treating HIV associated Metabolic
Syndrome. The groups are: 1) a lifestyle modification program plus metformin (also known as
glucophage), 2) lifestyle modification plus placebo, 3) metformin alone or 4) placebo alone.
The lifestyle modification program consists of nutrition and exercise sessions with the goal
of improving body composition, heart health, and ways to lower the risk of developing
diabetes.
Detailed Description
After two initial screening visits with medical and nutrition staff for informed consent and
determination of eligibility qualifying subjects will be seen for a baseline visit.

At baseline subjects will have an interval history and physical exam, lipodystrophy
evaluation by investigator and patient report. Bloods will be taken for insulin, glucose,
HgbA1c, lipid studies, creatinine, liver function, serum lactate, urine pregnancy (women),
CD4, viral load, and complete blood count (CBC). Metabolic assessment will include a 2-hour
oral glucose tolerance test and indirect calorimetry. Carotid ultrasound will be done for
assessment of intima-media thickness. Body composition will be assessed by dual energy
x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), single-slice magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning through
the abdomen and mid thigh, magnetic resonance spectroscopy scanning to assess
intramyocellular lipid of the calf, anthropometric measurements, and Cardiac computed
tomography (CT) will be done.

After the baseline visit, subjects will be randomized to 1 of 4 groups: 1) a lifestyle
modification program plus metformin (also known as glucophage), 2) lifestyle modification
plus placebo, 3) metformin alone or 4) placebo alone.

The starting dose of metformin will be 500mg twice daily and this will increase to 850mg
twice daily at the 3-month visit.

An identical visit to that at baseline will be repeated at 12-months.

Subjects will return at 1 month for an interval history and physical exam, assessment of
compliance and side effects. Blood will be collected for CBC, lactate, liver function, and
creatinine. Women will have a urine pregnancy.

A 6-month visit will include an interval history and physical exam, assessment of compliance
and side effects, 2 hour oral glucose tolerance test, fasting bloods (glucose, lipid panel,
creatinine, liver function, serum lactate, CBC) will be done, a urine pregnancy will be
checked in women. Carotid ultrasound will be done and body composition will be assessed by
anthropometric measurements and DEXA scan.

There will also be a short visit at 3 and 9 months to obtain an interval history and
physical exam, safety labs (serum lactate, CBC, liver function, and creatinine), urine
pregnancy (women). Subjects randomized to metformin or placebo will increase their dose from
500mg twice daily to 850mg twice daily at the 3 month visit.

At each of the visits review of a 4 day food record will occur.

Those randomized to lifestyle modification will attend weekly sessions with a study
investigator to cover a "core-curriculum" that is modeled after the Diabetes Prevention
Program (DPP) intervention. The primary goals of the lifestyle modification program are
derived from a combination of recommendations from the American Academy of Clinical
Endocrinologists (AACE) and National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). The goals are to
eat less than or equal to 35% of total calories from fat (less than 7% from saturated fat,
up to 10% from polyunsaturated fat with emphasis on sources of omega 3 fatty acids and
reduction of trans fatty acids, up to 20% from monounsaturated fats), and 25-35g of fiber
per day.

The intensity of the counseling sessions will decrease in months 10 through 12 to biweekly
counseling session with study investigators and biweekly phone contact, alternating.

In addition to the program outlined above, those randomized to the lifestyle modification
group will also participate in progressive resistance training. Each training session will
begin with a 5 minute warm-up on a stationary bicycle at 50% of the estimated maximal heart
rate (maximal heart rate=220-age). All sessions will be monitored by a licensed physical
therapist. Immediately after the warm-up, a standard flexibility routine will be performed
to minimize the risk of injury. Then, the aerobic training protocol will be performed. The
aerobic training program will follow the general guidelines established by the American
College of Sports Medicine. Training will be performed using a standard stationary bicycle.
Aerobic/endurance exercise will be performed with large muscle groups. Each subject will
complete three supervised training sessions per week for 12 months.

Strength training will be performed using Keiser equipment. Selected muscle groups will be
trained alternating upper and lower exercises in the following order: 1) hip extension, 2)
lateral pull down, 3) knee extension, 4) elbow flexion, 5) knee flexion, and 6) chest press.
Each repetition will include concentric and eccentric phases. Each muscle group will be
trained individually 3 times per week, on alternate days. The subjects will perform three
sets of 10 repetitions each for every muscle group, resting 2-3 seconds between repetitions,
2 minutes between sets, and 4 minutes between muscle groups. The 1 repetition maximum will
be measured every 3-4 weeks for the first 6 months and it will be repeated again at the 9
and 12 month visits. The relative intensity will increase from 60-80% of the 1 repetition
maximum over 6 months. Subjects not randomized to training will have a determination of 1
repetition maximum made at baseline, 6 and 12 months.
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhaseN/A
Study DesignAllocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment
Condition
  • HIV Infections
  • Metabolic Syndrome X
InterventionDrug: Metformin
Starting at 500 mg twice daily and increasing to 850 mg twice daily after 3 Months
Drug: Placebo
500 mg twice daily increasing to 850 mg twice daily after 3 Months
Behavioral: Lifestyle Modification
Lifestyle Modification
Study Arm (s)
  • Placebo Comparator: Group 1
    No Lifestyle Modification and Placebo
  • Active Comparator: Group 2
    Lifestyle Modification and Placebo
  • Active Comparator: Group 3
    No Lifestyle Modification and Metformin
  • Active Comparator: Group 4
    Lifestyle Modification and Metformin

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusCompleted
Estimated Enrollment50
Estimated Completion DateJune 2012
Estimated Primary Completion DateJune 2011
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Age ≥ 18 and ≤ 65 years of age

- HIV positive, on a stable combination antiretroviral regimen for > 6 months,
including but not limited to either 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
(NRTI) and a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) or protease
inhibitor (PI), or a triple NRTI regimen

- Ability and motivation to modify behavior and make lifestyle changes

- NCEP-Adult Treatment Panel III defined metabolic syndrome, as defined by 3 out of 5
of the following: 1) Waist circumference greater than 102 cm (40 in) in men and 88
cm (35 in) in women, 2) Triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL or current anti-lipolytic drug
treatment, 3) high-density lipoprotein less than 40mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in
women, 4) Blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg or current antihypertensive drug treatment, 5)
Fasting glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL

Exclusion Criteria:

- Any new serious opportunistic infection within the past 6 weeks

- History of unstable angina, aortic stenosis, uncontrolled hypertension, severe
neuropathy, arthritis or other contraindication to exercise

- Current therapy with insulin or other diabetic agent, fasting blood sugar > 126

- Requiring parenteral nutrition or parenteral glucocorticoid therapy or oral
glucocorticoid therapy

- Estrogen, progestational derivative, or ketoconazole use within 3 months

- New antiretroviral regimen in the past 6 months

- Serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL (males) and 1.4 mg/dL (females), serum glutamic pyruvic
transaminase-liver function (SGPT), > 2.5 upper limit of normal (ULN), Lactate > 2.0
ULN, hemoglobin < 10.0 mg/dL

- Current substance and/or alcohol abuse

- Known hypersensitivity to Metformin

- Congestive heart failure requiring pharmacologic treatment

- Use of cimetidine or planned use during the study period

- Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

- Pregnant or actively seeking pregnancy, breastfeeding

- Testosterone use for non-physiologic purposes, or physiologic testosterone
replacement for < 3 months.

- Presence of active AIDS including cancers

- Current viral, bacterial or other infections (excluding HIV)

- Weight loss in the past 3 months of greater than 10 pounds

- Nitrates or other medications that can alter endothelial function

- Contraindication to beta blocker or nitroglycerin use

- Patients with previous allergic reactions to iodine-containing contrast media or to
iodine
GenderBoth
Ages18 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersNo
ContactsNot Provided
Location CountriesUnited States

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT00399360
Other Study ID NumbersDK-49302-10AR
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeYes
Information Provided ByMassachusetts General Hospital
Study SponsorMassachusetts General Hospital
CollaboratorsNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Investigators Principal Investigator: Steven K. Grinspoon, MD Massachusetts General Hospital
Verification DateSeptember 2012

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114