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.
Scientific Claim
In obese adults with reduced growth hormone secretion, 12 months of tesamorelin treatment causes a significant increase in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels compared to placebo (102.9 ± 31.8 μg/L vs. 22.8 ± 8.9 μg/L; P=0.02).
Original Statement
“After 12 months, tesamorelin treatment led to a significantly greater increase in IGF-I than did placebo treatment (change, 102.9±31.8 μg/L vs 22.8±8.9 μg/L, tesamorelin vs placebo; P=.02).”
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 RCT design with randomization and control group allows for causal language. The significant P-value supports 'causes' for the IGF-I increase.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The effects of tesamorelin on phosphocreatine recovery in obese subjects with reduced GH.
This study found that when obese adults with low growth hormone took tesamorelin for a year, their IGF-I levels went up a lot more than those who took a dummy pill — exactly what the claim says.