DYSLIPIDEMIA AND BODY COMPOSITION EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE CYPIONATE (TC) IN A GROUP OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS (PHAs) IN ONTARIO, CANADA

S Tenzif¹, P Ford², W Wobeser², B Ross², D Jenkins³, D Martin^2
1The Riverdale Hospital, Toronto, Ontario; ²Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario; ³University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

Objectives: To assess the health effects of TC use in a PHA population in Ontario.
Methods: A group of PHAs was recruited for an observational study. Information on patients’ medical history, HIV medication, diet, physical activity and quality of life using MOS-HIV have been collected. Body composition assessments were carried out using MRI, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and anthropometric techniques. Fasting blood tests were performed assessing serum lipid profile, liver enzymes, serum proteins, glucose, testosterone, prolactin, cortisol, c-peptide, LH, and FSH.
Results: To date data on 40 PHAs is available, 17 of which have using TC. The median duration of TC use was 19 months. The TC and non-TC groups were similar in age, risk for HIV infection, smoking habits and weight. The mean duration of time since HIV diagnosis in the TC group was significantly higher (9.5 vs. 6.4, p<0.05). The use of antiretroviral HIV therapies in both groups was similar. Protease inhibitors (PI) were the prominent form of anti-HIV medication in both study groups. TC users had mean lower fat mass (FM) as percentage of their weight than the comparison group (15.8% vs. 17.9%) as measured by BIA. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) as measured by MRI were similar in both groups. The SAT in arms and legs of the TC group was smaller (p<0.05). The mean CD4 cell count in the TC group was higher than the non-TC users (504.2/microL vs. 485.5/microL), The serum HDL in the TC group was lower than the non-TC group, and the TG was significantly higher (p<0.05) Anthropometric parameters were similar. Insulin and c-peptides in the TC group were significantly higher than non-TC users. Dietary intake in both groups were similar.
Conclusion: Anabolic steroid use may be associated with increased cardiovascular events.