Even after accounting for belly fat loss, the muscles along the spine got denser with this drug, meaning it directly improved spinal muscle health.
Scientific Claim
In HIV-positive adults with abdominal obesity who responded to tesamorelin with ≥8% VAT reduction, the increase in paraspinal muscle density was maintained after adjusting for changes in VAT, suggesting a direct effect on spinal muscle quality independent of visceral fat loss.
Original Statement
“After adjusting for changes in VAT, changes in total muscle density of both the rectus and paraspinal muscles remained significant, while other total and lean muscle groups were attenuated and no longer significant.”
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 RCT design with multivariate adjustment for VAT allows causal inference for this specific muscle group. The persistence of significance supports a direct effect.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV
The study found that a drug called tesamorelin made the back muscles of HIV patients with belly fat stronger and denser—even after accounting for the fact that they lost belly fat—meaning the drug helped their muscles directly, not just by reducing fat.