Tesamorelin increased rectus lean muscle by 0.85 cm² in people with HIV and belly fat, and this effect stayed strong even after considering belly fat loss.

Scientific Claim

In tesamorelin responders with HIV and abdominal obesity, the lean muscle area of the rectus muscle increased by 0.85 cm² after adjustment for baseline and treatment arm, which remained significant even after accounting for visceral adipose tissue changes.

Original Statement

“Lean muscle area changes remained significant after adjusting for VAT; only changes in the rectus and paraspinal lean muscles remained highly significant (p<0.005) after adjusting for changes in IGF-1.”

From study:The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with 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 claim accurately reports the adjusted effect size and significance status without overgeneralizing.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2019

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV

Score: 60

DOI: 10.14283/jfa.2018.45

Similar Assertions

Tesamorelin increased rectus and psoas muscle size by 0.44 and 0.46 cm² in people with HIV and belly fat, and this effect remained even after accounting for belly fat loss.

92%

HIV patients with belly fat who responded to tesamorelin had bigger rectus and psoas muscles (0.44 and 0.46 cm² larger) compared to placebo after 26 weeks.

91%

People with HIV and belly fat who responded to tesamorelin by losing belly fat saw their trunk muscles grow larger in specific areas: rectus abdominis by 0.85 cm², psoas by 0.64 cm², and others by up to 1.08 cm² more than those on placebo after 26 weeks.

91%

The drug made the lean parts of the abdominal and rectus muscles denser—meaning they had less fat inside them—more than other muscles, showing it targeted key core muscles.

89%

Tesamorelin increased rectus and psoas muscle size by 0.44 and 0.46 cm² in people with HIV and belly fat, but this effect was reduced when considering changes in a growth hormone-related factor.

89%