For people with HIV and belly fat who responded to tesamorelin by losing belly fat, taking the drug for 26 weeks made their trunk muscles denser by 1.56 to 4.86 units compared to those who didn't take it.
Scientific Claim
In HIV-positive adults with abdominal obesity who achieved ≥8% visceral fat reduction after tesamorelin treatment, 26 weeks of tesamorelin increased trunk muscle density by 1.56 to 4.86 Hounsfield units across four muscle groups compared to placebo.
Original Statement
“tesamorelin was associated with significantly greater increases in density of four truncal muscle groups (coefficient 1.56-4.86 Hounsfield units; all p<0.005)”
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 study is a randomized controlled trial with a control group, which can establish causation for the specific population studied. The verb 'increased' is appropriate as it reflects the causal relationship demonstrated by the RCT design.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV
In people with HIV and belly fat who lost a lot of that fat from the drug tesamorelin, their trunk muscles got stronger and denser—like muscle getting more packed and less fatty—compared to those who got a placebo.