HIV patients with high liver enzymes who lost enough belly fat from tesamorelin were more than twice as likely to have their ALT levels return to normal compared to those who didn't lose much fat.

Scientific Claim

Among HIV-infected patients with elevated liver enzymes treated with tesamorelin, those achieving ≥8% visceral adipose tissue reduction had a 35% rate of ALT normalization at 26 weeks, compared to 18% in nonresponders, indicating a higher likelihood of resolving elevated ALT levels.

Original Statement

“Among tesamorelin-treated subjects with elevated baseline transaminases, 35% of VAT responders compared to 18% of VAT nonresponders had normalization of ALT at week 26 (responders vs. nonresponders, P = 0.007).”

From study:Visceral fat reduction with tesamorelin is associated with improved liver enzymes in 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 claim accurately describes the observed association without causal language. The study design supports correlational claims, and the language matches the evidence strength guidelines.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Visceral fat reduction with tesamorelin is associated with improved liver enzymes in HIV

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2017 Oct 23

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Visceral fat reduction with tesamorelin is associated with improved liver enzymes in HIV

Score: 62

DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000001614

Similar Assertions

HIV patients with high liver enzymes who lost at least 8% of their visceral fat from the drug were 2.5 times more likely to have their ALT levels return to normal compared to those who didn't lose much fat.

89%

For people with HIV and belly fat who have high liver enzyme levels, those who lost at least 8% of their visceral fat from tesamorelin treatment had much bigger drops in their liver enzyme levels compared to those who didn't lose much fat.

89%

HIV patients with high liver enzymes who lost at least 8% visceral fat after taking tesamorelin saw their ALT drop by about 9 units on average, while those without fat loss had a slight increase, showing a clear benefit from fat reduction.

88%

HIV patients with high liver enzymes who lost visceral fat from the drug kept their liver enzyme levels improved for a full year even after stopping the drug and some fat coming back.

87%

HIV patients with high ALT who lost visceral fat had a 35% chance of normalizing their ALT levels after 6 months, compared to 18% who didn't lose fat, showing a clear benefit.

87%