Insulin resistance occurs when blood glucose levels get too high for the body to respond. Certain anti-HIV drugs are associated with increased insulin resistance and may lead to abnormal fat distribution, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The dietary supplement chromium picolinate has been shown to safely improve insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with no serious side effects. However, the effects of the supplement have not been thoroughly examined in HIV-infected individuals. This study will determine the effectiveness of chromium picolinate in improving insulin resistance in HIV-infected individuals.~This study will last 2 months. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either chromium picolinate or placebo once a day for 2 months. Participants will have four overnight visits at the research center and two additional daytime visits for safety monitoring. During the overnight visits, participants will undergo a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, in which a continuous infusion of insulin is given through a vein and glucose levels are monitored through blood samples taken every 5 to 10 minutes. Fat tissue biopsies will also be conducted at the overnight study visits. During the safety monitoring visits, blood collection will occur for kidney and liver function tests, CD4 count, and viral load assessment.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the nutritional supplement chromium picolinate in improving insulin resistance, a symptom of diabetes, in HIV-infected patients. The ultimate goal is to find a simple therapy that can prevent the development of diabetes in individuals with HIV.