Zidovudine/lamivudin e contributes to insulin resistance within 3 months of starting combination antiretroviral therapy

Methods: Glucose metabolism and body composition were assessed before and after 3 months of ART in a prospective randomized clinical trial of HIV-1-positive ART-naive men taking lopinavir/ritonavir within either a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-containing regimen (zidovudine/lamivudine; n1⁄411) or a NRTI-sparing regimen (nevirapine; n1⁄49). Glucose disposal, glucose production and lipolysis were measured after an overnight fast and during a hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamp using stable isotopes. Body composition was assessed by computed tomography and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.