Does Aerobic Exercise Alter Body Compositon and Fasting Blood Glucose in HIV Seropositives on Antiretroval Therapy

Abstract

Despite the availability of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV seropositives still face numerous health inequalities, and multi-morbidity. Aerobic exercise is a cheap and key non pharmacological strategy for optimizing or maintaining health outcomes for HIV infected persons. This study examined effectiveness of aerobic exercise on body composition and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in HIV seropositives on cART. Eighty two volunteers were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Baseline values of the variables were evaluated; intervention and control groups participated in 12 weeks moderate intensity aerobic exercise and weekly lectures respectively. As a result of 22% attrition rate ,64 participants completed the study and the variables were re-assessed. Mean and standard deviation summarized the data. Student t-test for independent samples analysed significant differences in mean values of the variables between the two groups at baseline and at the end of the study. Paired student t-test compared the significant difference in the mean values of the variables between pre- and post- tests in the experimental and control groups. Level of significance was set at p<0.05. Mean age and age range in years of participants were 39.57+ 10.13 and 21-60 respectively. Insignificant difference (p>0.05) existed in the baseline values between intervention and control groups, so also at the end of the study, except in FBG where significant reduction (p<0.05) was found. Pre- and post- tests showed significant reduction and increase (p<0.05) in mean values of FBG in intervention and control groups respectively. Aerobic exercise stabilised and significantly reduced body composition and FBG respectively in HIV seropositives on cART in the experimental group.