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.
Scientific Claim
In obese adults with reduced GH, the improvement in phosphocreatine recovery (ViPCr) was not significantly associated with changes in body weight, fat mass, lean mass, or physical activity, suggesting mitochondrial improvements are not secondary to body composition changes.
Original Statement
“The change in ViPCr was not significantly associated with changes in body composition parameters including changes in right leg lean mass or physical activity or diet (all P > 1.0).”
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 lack of association is reported with statistical values (P>1.0) and correctly framed as a correlation. 'Not associated' is appropriate language for this observational analysis.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The effects of tesamorelin on phosphocreatine recovery in obese subjects with reduced GH.
The study found that when obese people with low growth hormone got a treatment that boosted a related hormone (IGF-I), their muscle energy recovery improved—even though they didn’t lose much weight or fat, meaning their muscles got better at using energy on their own, not just because they lost weight.