Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Study of In Vivo Glucose Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Mice Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test OGTT and Insulin Tolerance Test ITT
08:13

Study of In Vivo Glucose Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Mice Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test OGTT and Insulin Tolerance Test ITT

Published on: January 7, 2018

71.2K

Insulin resistance and intestinal integrity in children with and without HIV infection in Uganda

S Dirajlal-Fargo1,2,3, L Shan3, A Sattar3

  • 1University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.

HIV Medicine
|October 24, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Children with perinatally acquired HIV infection (PHIVs) on antiretroviral therapy show higher insulin resistance. This metabolic disturbance is linked to higher body mass index (BMI), not immune activation or gut integrity issues.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Metabolic Health
  • HIV Research

Background:

  • Cardiometabolic complications are a concern in children with perinatally acquired HIV infection (PHIVs) and perinatally HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) children.
  • The relationship between these complications, systemic inflammation, and gut integrity markers in these populations is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess insulin resistance in PHIVs compared to HEUs and HIV-unexposed, uninfected children (HUUs).
  • To explore the association between insulin resistance and biomarkers of intestinal damage and translocation in these groups.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 172 children (aged 2-10 years) in Uganda: PHIVs (on stable ART with viral load <400 copies/mL), HEUs, and HUUs.
  • Insulin resistance was measured using the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR).
  • Systemic inflammation, monocyte activation, and gut integrity markers were quantified. Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis tests, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regressions.

Main Results:

  • PHIVs exhibited higher waist:hip ratio, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and HOMA-IR index compared to HEUs and HUUs (P ≤ 0.02).
  • Insulin resistance correlated with higher BMI and HDL cholesterol, and lower soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor I (sTNFR1) (P ≤ 0.02).
  • No correlation was found between HOMA-IR index and other inflammatory or gut biomarkers (P ≥ 0.05). BMI remained independently associated with HOMA-IR after adjusting for age and sTNFR1 (β = 0.16; P < 0.01).

Conclusions:

  • Despite viral suppression, Ugandan children with PHIVs demonstrate glucose metabolism disturbances.
  • Higher BMI, rather than immune activation or altered gut integrity, was associated with insulin resistance in this pediatric HIV-infected population.
Abstract

Keywords:
HIV-exposed uninfectedgut integrityimmune activationinflammationinsulin resistance

More Related Videos

Studying the Hypothalamic Insulin Signal to Peripheral Glucose Intolerance with a Continuous Drug Infusion System into the Mouse Brain08:32

Studying the Hypothalamic Insulin Signal to Peripheral Glucose Intolerance with a Continuous Drug Infusion System into the Mouse Brain

Published on: January 4, 2018

10.8K
An Affordable HIV-1 Drug Resistance Monitoring Method for Resource Limited Settings19:57

An Affordable HIV-1 Drug Resistance Monitoring Method for Resource Limited Settings

Published on: March 30, 2014

19.0K

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
4.8K
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects01:16

Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects

Insulin-replacement therapy usually includes both long-acting insulin (basal) and short-acting insulin (to cater to postprandial needs). In a diverse group of type 1 diabetes patients, the average daily insulin dose is typically 0.5-0.7 units/kg body weight. However, obese patients and pubertal adolescents may need more due to insulin resistance.
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
631
Immunodeficiency Diseases01:25

Immunodeficiency Diseases

Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...
1.8K
Glucose Absorption Into the Small Intestine01:26

Glucose Absorption Into the Small Intestine

Complex carbohydrates consumed cannot be absorbed into the small intestine in their original form. First, they must be hydrolyzed to a monosaccharide form such as glucose or galactose. These monosaccharides are then transported across the intestinal membrane and into the blood via transcellular transport. The intestinal epithelial cells allow the movement of these monosaccharides with a defined 'entry' through membrane transporter proteins present on their apical membrane and...
34.5K
Glucose Transporters01:27

Glucose Transporters

Glucose transporters facilitate the transport of glucose across the cell membrane. In addition to glucose, some glucose transporters can also aid the movement of other hexoses such as fructose, mannose, and galactose.
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
27.1K
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
4.2K