Effects of Exercise Training and Statin Use in People Living with HIV with Dyslipidemia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of the combination of ET and statins in people living with HIV.

METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eighty-three people living with HIV were assigned to either placebo (PL), statins (STA), placebo + ET (PLET) or statins + ET (STAET) groups. Volunteers assigned to STA and STAET groups were administered 10 mg of rosuvastatin, whereas the PL and PLET groups were administered a placebo. PLET and STAET groups performed ET three times a week. Before and after the 12-week follow-up, the volunteers underwent to anthropometric assessment and blood collection to evaluate lipid profile, cardiovascular markers, inflammatory profile; a Doppler ultrasound examination, muscle strength (MS) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CF) tests were performed.

RESULTS: There was a decrease in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, interleukin (IL)-1β and right carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in the STA, PLET, and STAET groups compared to PL group (p<0.001). Furthermore, there was a decrease in TC, TG, LDL, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels and in left and right cIMT and an increase in HDL-c levels in the STAET groups compared to the STA (p<0.001) and PLET groups (p<0.001). There was an increase in IL-10 levels, peak-systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, wall shear rate in the PLET and STAET groups compared to the PL (p<0.001) and STA groups (p<0.001). The PLET and STAET groups reduced body fat mass, body fat percentage and increased lean body mass, MS and CF compared to PL (p<0.001) and STA (p<0.001) groups.

CONCLUSION: The combination of ET and statins is useful to enhance lipid and inflammatory profiles, reduce CVD markers, and improve Doppler ultrasound findings, MS and CF in people living with HIV.