HIV patients on medication who keep taking tesamorelin for a year continue to have less belly fat, lower triglycerides, and better cholesterol levels compared to when they started. This finding is from the abstract summary - full study details were not available
Scientific Claim
Tesamorelin maintains reductions in visceral adipose tissue, waist circumference, triglycerides, cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol for up to 52 weeks in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy with excess abdominal fat who continue treatment.
Original Statement
“At wk 52, decreases in VAT [-35 +/- 50 cm(2) (-17.5 +/- 23.3%)], waist circumference (-3.4 +/- 6.0 cm), triglycerides (-48 +/- 182 mg/dl), cholesterol (-8 +/- 38 mg/dl), and non-high-density lipoprotein (-7 +/- 38 mg/dl) were maintained (all P < 0.001 vs. original baseline) in the T-T group.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
overstated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
probability
Can suggest probability/likelihood
Assessment Explanation
Based on abstract only - full methodology not available to verify; blinding status unknown, so definitive language is inappropriate.
More Accurate Statement
“Tesamorelin is likely to maintain reductions in visceral adipose tissue, waist circumference, triglycerides, cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol for up to 52 weeks in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy with excess abdominal fat who continue treatment.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: a pooled analysis of two multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials with safety extension data.