Moderate and high intensity exercise training in HIV-1 seropositive individuals: a randomized trial

HIV-infected individuals are frequently active, but guidelines for exercise in this population lack scientific support, since studies on the effects o f exercise training on immunologic variables of HIV-1 positive individuals have shown conflicting results. Exercise capacity, immunologic markers (CD4 , CD8 and CD4:CD8 ratio), anthropometric measurements, and depression score s were evaluated to compare the effects of two intensities of aerobic exerc ise on HIV-1 seropositive individuals. Twenty-one healthy subjects (14 men, 7 women), carriers of the HIV-1 virus (CD4 > 200 cells . mm(-3)), and inac tive for at least 6 months, completed a 12 week exercise training program ( 36 sessions of 1 h, 3 times per week), in a moderate intensity group (60 +/ - 4% of maximal heart rate) or a high intensity group (84 +/- 4% of maximal heart rate). Exercise capacity estimated by treadmill time was increased s ignificantly in both moderate intensity (680 +/- 81 s before; 750 +/- 151 s after) and high intensity (651 +/- 122 s before; 841 +/- 158 s after) grou ps, but the high intensity group presented a significantly larger increment (p < 0.01). There were no significant changes in the immunologic variables , anthropometric measurements or depression scores. Thus, HIV-seropositive individuals that participate in moderate and high intensity exercise progra ms are able to increase their functional capacity without any detectable ch anges in immunologic variables, anthropometric measurements or depression s cores.