A hormone treatment called tesamorelin lowers liver enzyme levels by 4 units more than a placebo in people with HIV after six months of treatment.

Scientific Claim

Tesamorelin reduces AST levels by 4 U/L more than placebo in HIV-infected adults with abdominal fat accumulation over 6 months.

Original Statement

“AST decreased with tesamorelin compared to placebo −4 [−12, 2] vs. 0 [−6, 5] U/L, tesamorelin vs. placebo, (P = 0.046)”

From study:Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial.

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

As a randomized controlled trial, this study design supports causal language for this secondary outcome. The verb 'reduces' is appropriate for the observed effect.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial.

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2014 Jul 23-30

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial.

Score: 73

DOI: 10.1001/jama.2014.8334

Similar Assertions

HIV patients with belly fat and high liver enzymes who lost at least 8% of their visceral fat from the drug saw their ALT drop by about 9 points (18%) and AST by 4 points (10%) after six months of treatment.

84%

A hormone treatment called tesamorelin decreases belly fat by 42 square centimeters more than a placebo in people with HIV who have excess abdominal fat after six months of treatment.

84%

A drug called tesamorelin helps HIV patients with belly fat buildup lose about 11% of their dangerous internal belly fat in six months, while those on a dummy pill lose almost none.

83%

HIV patients with belly fat who took tesamorelin had a 69% chance of losing at least 8% visceral fat, while those on placebo had only a 33% chance, showing a clear benefit from the drug.

83%

A drug called tesamorelin helps reduce belly fat deep inside the abdomen for people with HIV who are on medication, making their belly fat decrease by about 15% compared to those not taking the drug. This finding is from the abstract summary - full study details were not available

83%