People with HIV and belly fat who responded to tesamorelin by losing belly fat saw their rectus and psoas muscles grow 0.44 cm² and 0.46 cm² larger than those on placebo after 26 weeks of treatment.
Scientific Claim
In HIV-positive adults with abdominal obesity who responded to tesamorelin with ≥8% visceral fat reduction, rectus abdominis total muscle area increased by 0.44 cm² and psoas total muscle area increased by 0.46 cm² compared to placebo after 26 weeks.
Original Statement
“significant increases were also seen in total area of the rectus and psoas muscles (0.44 and 0.46 centimeters2; p<0.005)”
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 randomized controlled trial design supports causal language for the specific population. The verb 'increased' accurately reflects the treatment effect observed in the data.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV
The study found that a drug called tesamorelin helped HIV-positive people with belly fat lose that fat and also gain a little more muscle in their abdomen and lower back compared to those who didn’t take the drug.