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.

Scientific Claim

In HIV-positive adults with abdominal obesity who responded to tesamorelin treatment (≥8% visceral adipose tissue reduction), tesamorelin was associated with a 0.64 to 1.08 cm² greater increase in lean muscle area across all four trunk muscle groups compared to placebo after 26 weeks.

Original Statement

“in the lean muscle area of all four truncal muscle groups (0.64-1.08 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

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.

97%

For HIV patients with belly fat who responded to this drug, taking tesamorelin for 6 months made their trunk muscles less fatty and more dense, like turning soft muscle into firmer muscle.

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This drug didn’t just make muscles less fatty—it also made them bigger in size, adding about half a square inch of lean muscle in the core area after six months.

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For HIV patients with belly fat who responded to tesamorelin, the drug was linked to better muscle density in four trunk muscles, with improvements between 1.56 and 4.86 units compared to placebo after 26 weeks.

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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.

96%