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1st
appeared 14 April 1999
Combining Exercise with Male Hormone Therapy
Benefits Men with HIV-Wasting Disease
Men who suffer from HIV-wasting syndrome can benefit significantly from a combination of
exercise and regular, moderate doses of male hormones, according to a new clinical study
led by a UCSF researcher.
The study team found that the combined therapy produced an increase in lean-body mass and
muscle strength, regardless of whether a patient was undergoing treatment with HIV
anti-retroviral drugs known as protease inhibitors.
"This is an important point because weight gain after initiation of protease
inhibitor therapy usually takes place through the accumulation of body fat, but our goal
in patients with HIV-related weight loss is to build up the lean tissue," said lead
study investigator Marc Hellerstein, UCSF associate professor of medicine, who treats
patients at San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center.
The other key finding is that only a small amount of male hormones -- or androgens -- was
necessary to produce positive results. "Much larger doses of androgens are often used
by body-builders to develop muscular tissues, but such amounts have unproven long-term
safety," said Hellerstein, who also is an associate professor of nutritional sciences
at UC Berkeley.
Research results are reported in the current issue (April 14) of the Journal of the
American Medical Association.
Links:
HIVInsite
San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center
Journal of the
American Medical Association
Source: Corinna Kaarlela, News
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