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.
Scientific Claim
In obese adults with reduced GH, the use of tesamorelin to stimulate endogenous GH pulsatility may offer a more physiological approach to increasing IGF-I than direct GH replacement, potentially avoiding adverse effects on glucose metabolism.
Original Statement
“Treatment with GHRH differs fundamentally from that with GH, because GHRH increases endogenous GH pulsatility and augments IGF-I in a more physiological fashion, without aggravating glucose...”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
The claim is supported by the authors’ reference to prior data on GH vs GHRH effects on glucose, and the current study’s own data showing no glucose changes. Definitive language is justified.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The effects of tesamorelin on phosphocreatine recovery in obese subjects with reduced GH.
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.