Does nonlinear resistance training reduce metabolic syndrome in people living with HIV? A randomized clinical trial

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week nonlinear resistance training (NLRT) program on metabolic syndrome (MetS) components in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) and diagnosed with MetS.

Subjects were randomly assigned to either a NLRT (N.=10) or control (CON; N.=11) group. The NLRT group exercised three times per week during the 12 week supervised training program. The CON group was asked to maintain their daily habits. At baseline (pre) and after the intervention (post), both groups completed anthropometric, blood pressure, and biochemical assessments. A 2x2 repeated measures ANOVA (significance level of 5%) was performed to calculate the effects of intervention duration (time), group, and the interaction between the two.

There was a significant time*group interaction for lean body mass (LBM) (+5.5%, P<0.0001), body fat mass (BFM) (-10.1%, P<0.0001), body fat percentage (BF%) (-11.4%, P<0.0001), waist circumference (WC) (-1%, P=0.001), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (+31%, P<0.0001) levels, fasting glucose (FG) (-13.7%, P=0.012), and glycated hemoglobin (HBA1C) (-9%, P<0.0001). After the intervention, the NLRT group included fewer participants with abnormal levels of triglycerides (TG), HDL, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and FG while the CON group had more participants with abnormal levels of TG, SBP, and DBP.

Twelve weeks of NLRT was effective in ameliorating some components of MetS in PLHIV.