When belly fat decreases in people with HIV, liver fat also tends to decrease, showing a connection between these two types of fat.

Scientific Claim

Reductions in liver fat correlate with reductions in visceral fat in HIV-infected adults treated with tesamorelin or placebo.

Original Statement

“Among all patients, changes in hepatic lipid were significantly associated with changes in VAT (ρ = 0.31, P = 0.047)”

From study:Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial.

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 study design supports correlational claims as it measured changes in both variables. The use of 'correlate' is appropriate for a correlation analysis.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial.

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2014 Jul 23-30

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial.

Score: 73

DOI: 10.1001/jama.2014.8334

Similar Assertions

A hormone treatment called tesamorelin lowers liver fat by 2.9% more than a placebo in people with HIV who have excess abdominal fat after six months of treatment.

89%

Whether HIV patients had hepatitis or not didn't change the benefit of visceral fat loss on liver enzymes when taking tesamorelin.

85%

Continuing tesamorelin for a full year helps HIV patients with belly fat lose nearly 18% of their dangerous internal belly fat, with no loss of benefit over time.

85%

If HIV patients stop taking tesamorelin and switch to a dummy pill, their dangerous belly fat quickly returns to previous levels.

85%

Only HIV patients whose belly fat shrinks by at least 8% after taking this drug also get healthier-looking fat on scans — others don’t benefit in this way.

85%