NAPWA

Those of us with HIV are more likely to have conditions such as osteopenia (low bone mineral density) and osteoporosis (weakened bones) than our negative contemporaries. Factors such as low body weight and increased levels of smoking may also be contributors.

French investigators recently found that over a third of those about to start treatment already had reduced bone mineral density and that their levels continued to fall after they started treatment, particularly in those taking a protease inhibitorA type of anti-HIV drug that works by preventing the production of an enzyme, protease, that HIV needs to replicate..

However, HIV treatment, CD4 cell count and viral loadA measurement of the quantity of HIV RNA in the blood. Viral load blood test results are expressed as the number of copies (of HIV) per milliliter of blood plasma. does not appear to increase the risk of bone fractures. Their analysis showed that the only factors associated with fractures were excess alcohol consumption and coinfection with hepatitis C.

A joint London/New York studyA clinical trial is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase I tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase II expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase III expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IV takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. also noted that tenofovir, a popular component of many people’s regimens, may also be responsible for higher levels of bone mineral loss. They advise that vitamin D may prove to be a useful supplement for those on tenofovir.

Vitamin D is essential for bone metabolism and appears to be almost universally deficient in people with HIV.