Because so few people finished the study and the muscle energy didn’t improve much more in the drug group than the placebo group, we can’t say for sure the drug caused the improvement.

Scientific Claim

In obese adults with reduced GH, the study’s small sample size (n=22 completers) and lack of significant between-group difference in phosphocreatine recovery limit the ability to confirm a direct causal effect of tesamorelin on mitochondrial function.

Original Statement

“The high dropout rate resulted in a small sample size for PCr recovery analyses... A larger study sample may be needed to demonstrate a statistically significant effect...”

From study:The effects of tesamorelin on phosphocreatine recovery in obese subjects with reduced GH.

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

This is a direct quote from the discussion and accurately reflects the study’s limitations. Definitive language is appropriate for describing methodological constraints.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

The effects of tesamorelin on phosphocreatine recovery in obese subjects with reduced GH.

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2014 Jan

The study found that when obese people with low growth hormone took tesamorelin, their muscle energy recovery improved, and this was linked to higher IGF-I levels — suggesting the drug may help mitochondria work better, even if the group difference wasn’t huge.

Source Study

The effects of tesamorelin on phosphocreatine recovery in obese subjects with reduced GH.

Score: 61

DOI: 10.1210/jc.2013-3436

Similar Assertions

We know muscle energy recovery got better, but we don’t know if it’s because there are more mitochondria, bigger ones, or just ones that work better.

94%

Before starting the study, both the drug group and the placebo group had the same muscle energy recovery ability, so any later differences weren’t due to starting out differently.

84%

In a 12-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, tesamorelin improved mitochondrial oxidative capacity in obese adults with reduced growth hormone secretion, as measured by enhanced phosphocreatine recovery after exercise, with improvements strongly associated with increased IGF-I levels.

81%

The muscle energy improvement wasn’t because people lost weight or got more active — it seemed to be linked directly to IGF-I levels instead.

79%

When obese people with low growth hormone took a drug called tesamorelin for a year, their muscle energy recovery got better, which means their muscle cells may have become better at making energy.

78%