In HIV patients on placebo, losing visceral fat didn't lead to lower liver enzymes, unlike those taking tesamorelin.

Scientific Claim

In placebo-treated HIV-infected patients with elevated transaminases, visceral adipose tissue reduction ≥8% was not associated with changes in alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase levels.

Original Statement

“Among placebo-treated subjects, VAT reduction ≥ 8% was not associated with a concurrent decline in ALT (VAT ≥ 8% vs. < 8%, −6.5 ± 21.1 vs. −4.8 ± 21.1 U/L, P = 0.75) or AST (VAT ≥ 8% vs. < 8%, −2.1 ± 21.5 vs. −2.9 ± 15.5 U/L, P = 0.33), which is in contrast to tesamorelin-treated patients.”

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 study design supports association claims. The language correctly describes the lack of association without implying causation.

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

Even after accounting for other factors like sex and hepatitis, higher visceral fat was still linked to higher ALT levels in HIV patients with high liver enzymes.

92%

Even after stopping tesamorelin and some fat coming back, the liver enzyme improvements stayed for a year in patients who initially lost visceral fat.

86%

For HIV patients with belly fat and high liver enzymes, taking a placebo even if they lost visceral fat didn't help lower their liver enzyme levels, unlike those taking the actual drug.

85%

When people with HIV and belly fat lost fat from a placebo pill, their liver enzymes didn't improve, but when they lost fat from tesamorelin, their liver enzymes did improve.

84%

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.

83%