Instead of giving growth hormone directly, this drug tricks the body into making its own in a natural rhythm, which might be safer for blood sugar.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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The effects of tesamorelin on phosphocreatine recovery in obese subjects with reduced GH.

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2014 Jan

This study found that a drug called tesamorelin helps the body make more of its own growth hormone, which in turn raises IGF-I levels and improves energy production in cells—without making blood sugar worse, which is a common problem with direct hormone shots.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

The effects of tesamorelin on phosphocreatine recovery in obese subjects with reduced GH.

Score: 61

DOI: 10.1210/jc.2013-3436

Similar Assertions

After a year of taking tesamorelin, obese people with low growth hormone had much higher levels of IGF-I than those who took a sugar pill — proving the drug works as intended.

82%

The drug didn’t make blood sugar or insulin levels better, so its benefits must come from somewhere else — likely directly on muscle energy production.

80%

Taking tesamorelin for a year makes IGF-I levels rise much more in obese people with low growth hormone than taking a dummy pill, with a clear difference between the two groups.

79%

Taking tesamorelin for a year makes the hormone IGF-I go up much more in obese people with low growth hormone compared to taking a sugar pill.

79%

The drug raised IGF-I levels by about 1.7 standard deviations — a big, normal-range boost that shows the treatment worked well without going overboard.

78%