The drug didn’t make muscles stronger or change how much energy they used during exercise — only how fast they recovered afterward, which points to mitochondria being the target.

Pro

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Community contributions welcome

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

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2014 Jan

The study found that when obese people with low growth hormone got more IGF-I, their muscles recovered energy faster after exercise — but it didn’t test if they got stronger or used more energy upfront, so it supports the idea that IGF-I helps mitochondria recover, not muscles get stronger.

Contradicting (0)

Community contributions welcome

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

The muscle energy recovery speed (ViPCr) responded more clearly to IGF-I than another measure (τPCr), meaning ViPCr might be a better way to track how well muscles are making energy.

84%

Even when accounting for differences in weight, fitness, and blood sugar, the more IGF-I went up, the better the muscle energy recovery — meaning IGF-I likely has a direct role.

84%

The muscle energy improvement wasn’t because people lost weight or got more active — it seemed to be linked directly to IGF-I levels instead.

82%

In people who took the placebo, IGF-I didn’t go up much, and their muscle energy recovery didn’t link to IGF-I — meaning the connection only showed up when the drug raised IGF-I.

81%

Even when accounting for factors like age, weight, and insulin levels, higher IGF-I still links to better muscle energy recovery in obese people with low growth hormone.

76%