Abstract:
Introduction
This study investigated the interactions between a low protein high calorie (LPHC) diet and
an integrase inhibitor-containing antiretroviral drug regimen (INI-CR)in light of evidence sug-
gesting that the initiation of cART in patients with poor nutritional status is a predictor of mor-
tality independent of immune status.
Methods
Freshly weaned Sprague Dawley rats (120) were randomized into the standard, LPHC and
normal protein high calorie (NPHC) diet groups (n = 40/group) initially for 15 weeks. Thereaf-
ter, experimental animals in each diet group were further randomized into four treatment
sub-groups (n = 10/group) Control (normal saline), group 1(TDF+3TC+DTG and Tesamore-
lin), group 2 (TDF+3TC+DTG), and Positive control (AZT+3TC+ATV/r) with treatment and
diets combined for 9 weeks. Weekly body weights, fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glu-
cose tolerance test (OGTT); lipid profiles, liver weights, hepatic triglycerides and adiposity
were assessed at week 24.
Results
At week 15, body weights increased between the diet group in phase 1(standard 146 ± 1.64
vs. 273.1 ± 1.56 g), (NPHC, 143.5 ± 2.40 vs. 390.2 ± 4.94 g) and (LPHC, 145.5 ± 2.28 g vs.
398.3 ± 4.89 g) (p< 0.0001). A similar increase was noted in the FBG and OGTT (p<
0.0001). In phase 2, there was an increase in FBG, OGTT, body weights, lipid profile, liver
weights, hepatic triglycerides, adiposity and insulin levels in group 2 and positive control in
both NPHC and LPHC diet groups (p<0.0001). Growth hormone levels were decreased in
Tesamorelin-free group 2 and positive control in both NPHC and LPHC (p< 0.0001).
Conclusions
The obesogenic activities of the LPHC diet exceeded that of the NPHC diet and interacted
with both integrase-containing and classical cART drug regimens to reproduce cART asso-
ciated metabolic dysregulation. The effects were however reversed by co-administration
with tesamorelin, a synthetic growth hormone releasing hormone analogue.
