Cialis for weight loss? study tests Fat-Burning effects

NCT ID NCT04684589

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tested whether taking tadalafil (Cialis) daily for 12 weeks can change how fat tissue works in obese adults. Researchers used MRI scans and fat samples to measure fat metabolism and gene activity. The goal was to understand if the drug could make fat behave more like calorie-burning brown fat, not to cause weight loss directly.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Tadalafil (Cialis)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could point toward a new way to treat obesity by changing how the body stores and burns fat.
What could go wrong
This is an early-stage study with only 89 participants. It measures biological changes, not weight loss, so even positive results may not lead to a practical treatment.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Nashville, Tennessee, 37203, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.