Claimed effect · Tesamorelin

Does Tesamorelin help with liver fat?

B
Grade B — probable, not settled1 RCT (n=61) · effect size: moderate
Short answerProbable, not settled. Human data exist (1 RCT (n=61)) and mostly agree, showing a moderate effect — but too few, too small, or not yet peer-reviewed for a firm answer. Hepatic fat fraction fell by about a third over 12 months vs placebo; a specific population, one trial.

What the studies show

Hepatic fat fraction fell by about a third over 12 months vs placebo; a specific population, one trial.

Human trials exist and mostly agree, but there are too few of them, they are too small, or one big one is still reading out. Expect the grade to move.

  1. 1

In context

Tesamorelin is a synthetic analogue of growth-hormone-releasing hormone, approved in the United States to reduce excess abdominal fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. In that population it cuts visceral fat by about 15% over six months, and the fat returns when treatment stops. Its use for general fat loss, muscle or anti-ageing rests on extrapolation from that specific group; there are no trials in healthy adults. It is not authorised in the EU.

Tesamorelin is approved (rx, us). Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.

Questions

Is Tesamorelin proven to help with liver fat?
Not yet settled. 1 RCT (n=61) — LYO grades it B, meaning probable but liable to change as trials read out.
What studies are behind the grade?
Hepatic fat fraction fell by about a third over 12 months vs placebo; a specific population, one trial.
Is Tesamorelin approved for this?
Tesamorelin is an approved medicine (Approved (Rx, US)); whether this particular outcome is a licensed indication is stated on the compound page's regulation section.

Other outcomes for Tesamorelin

Reviewed 2 September 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →