HIV patients with belly fat who responded to tesamorelin had bigger rectus and psoas muscles (0.44 and 0.46 cm² larger) compared to placebo after 26 weeks.

Scientific Claim

Among HIV-positive adults with abdominal obesity who responded to tesamorelin treatment (≥8% visceral adipose tissue reduction), tesamorelin was associated with a 0.44 cm² greater increase in rectus muscle total area and 0.46 cm² greater increase in psoas muscle total area compared to placebo after 26 weeks.

Original Statement

“Significant increases were also seen in total area of the rectus and psoas muscles (0.44 and 0.46 centimeters2; p<0.005)”

From study:The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study design (RCT) supports causal claims within the specific population, but the recommended verb strength is association to reflect the specific responder subgroup and avoid overgeneralization. The claim uses 'associated with' appropriately.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2019

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV

Score: 60

DOI: 10.14283/jfa.2018.45

Similar Assertions

Tesamorelin increased rectus and psoas muscle size by 0.44 and 0.46 cm² in people with HIV and belly fat, and this effect remained even after accounting for belly fat loss.

97%

HIV patients with belly fat who responded to tesamorelin saw better lean muscle quality in their abdominal and rectus muscles, with improvements of 1.39 and 1.78 units respectively compared to placebo after 26 weeks.

96%

HIV patients with belly fat who responded to tesamorelin had more lean muscle mass in all four trunk muscles, with increases between 0.64 and 1.08 cm² compared to placebo after 26 weeks.

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The drug made two key core muscles—rectus and psoas—slightly bigger, adding about half a square inch each after six months, while the placebo group didn’t change.

95%

People with HIV and belly fat who responded to tesamorelin by losing belly fat saw their rectus and psoas muscles grow 0.44 cm² and 0.46 cm² larger than those on placebo after 26 weeks of treatment.

95%