Before starting the drug, the fat quality in the group that got the drug was just like the group that got the placebo — so any differences later were due to the treatment.

Scientific Claim

In people living with HIV (PWH) with central adiposity, baseline visceral adipose tissue (VAT) density was similar between tesamorelin responders and placebo groups (−91 HU in both, P = 0.80), indicating no pre-existing differences in fat quality.

Original Statement

“Baseline characteristics were similar across arms, including VAT (−91 HU both arms, P = 0.80) and SAT density (−94 HU tesamorelin, −95 HU placebo, P = 0.29).”

From study:Tesamorelin improves fat quality independent of changes in fat quantity

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

The claim is a direct description of baseline data reported in the study. The statistical equivalence is accurately stated with P-value.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Tesamorelin improves fat quality independent of changes in fat quantity

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

Before starting the treatment, both groups had the same type of belly fat, so any improvements later were due to the drug, not because one group started with better fat.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Tesamorelin improves fat quality independent of changes in fat quantity

Score: 66

DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000002897

Similar Assertions

Before treatment, the fat under the skin looked just as healthy on scans in both the drug and placebo groups — so any changes later were caused by the drug.

95%

The drug makes the fat around the organs healthier-looking on scans more than the fat under the skin — it works better on belly fat than on thigh or arm fat.

92%

Even when scientists account for how much belly fat was lost, the fat that’s left still gets denser and healthier-looking on scans — meaning the drug is doing something beyond just shrinking fat.

92%

Only HIV patients whose belly fat shrinks by at least 8% after taking this drug also get healthier-looking fat on scans — others don’t benefit in this way.

91%

For HIV patients with excess belly fat who responded to the drug tesamorelin, taking the drug for 26 weeks made the fat around their organs denser by 2.3 points on a CT scan scale, even after accounting for changes in fat amount, which suggests the fat became healthier.

91%