Even though the drug raised IGF-I levels, it didn’t make the muscle energy recovery noticeably better than the placebo — so the effect might be subtle or only show up in certain people.

Scientific Claim

In obese adults with reduced GH, there was no statistically significant difference in phosphocreatine recovery rate (ViPCr) between those treated with tesamorelin and those given placebo after 12 months, despite significant IGF-I increases in the treatment group.

Original Statement

“After treatment with tesamorelin for 12 months, the change in ViPCr was 0.01 ± 3.76 vs −1.02 ± 1.71 mM/min (tesamorelin vs placebo, P > .10).”

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, measured comparison from an RCT with precise numerical values and a non-significant P-value. Definitive language is appropriate for reporting the absence of a group difference.

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 people who took tesamorelin had better muscle energy recovery after exercise than those who took a placebo, even though both groups had low growth hormone — so the claim that there was no difference is wrong.

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

After a year of treatment, tesamorelin didn't show a clear improvement in muscle energy recovery compared to a placebo in obese people with low growth hormone.

89%

In people who took tesamorelin, the more their IGF-I levels went up, the better their muscles recovered after exercise — and this link was even stronger than in the whole group.

89%

Even when researchers removed blurry or low-quality scans, the link between IGF-I and muscle energy recovery stayed strong — so the finding is reliable.

89%

In people who took the placebo, IGF-I didn’t go up much, and their muscle energy recovery didn’t link to IGF-I — meaning the connection only showed up when the drug raised IGF-I.

87%

In obese people with low growth hormone taking tesamorelin, the link between higher IGF-I and better muscle energy recovery is even stronger than in the whole study group.

84%