Muscle Growth

Description

Muscle Growth, Muscle Hypertrophy, is the specific growth of the body''s Muscles - particularly Skeletal Muscles.

Substances that stimulate Muscle Growth are known as Anabolics.

 

Substances that inhibit Muscle loss (thereby indirectly enhancing Muscle Growth) are known as Anti-Catabolics.

 

In order for these substances to facilitate Muscle Growth, they must be consumed (for exogenous substances) or produced (for endogenous substances) in conjunction with intensive, weight-bearing Exercise (i.e. bodybuilding).

Amino Acids

 Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) is speculated to enhance Muscle Growth: 

 This claim is based on studies that show that Alpha-Ketoglutarate may reverse Muscle wasting in hospital patients by increasing Glutamine stores within the Muscles.

 Arginine may facilitate Muscle Growth (by inhibiting Muscle Loss - i.e. it is Anti-Catabolic).  ^[1]

 Supplemental Amino Acids - Branched Chain (BCAAs) (when used in conjuction with Isotonic Exercise (e.g. weight lifting)) may facilitate Muscle Growth:  ^[2]

 Supplemental BCAAs may help to minimize the body’s need to catabolize endogenous BCAAs from Muscles during Isotonic Exercise (and other forms of Exercise) by providing an alternate source of BCAAs for the body to convert to Alanine.  By preventing the catabolism of BCAAs from Muscles, Muscle BCAA levels are preserved and Muscle Growth is not impaired.  ^[3]

 Creatine Monohydrate may facilitate Muscle Growth:  ^[4]

 Creatine Monohydrate, by increasing endogenous Creatine Phosphate levels, may facilitate the endogenous synthesis of Muscle Proteins (e.g. Actomyosin) by Ribosomes.

 Cysteine may facilitate Muscle Growth: 

 Supplemental N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) (400 mg per day) may facilitate Muscle Growth (specifically NAC may prevent the catabolism of Muscle Proteins in people who engage in Isotonic Exercise by preserving Muscle Glutamine levels).  ^[5]

 Glutamine may stimulate the synthesis of endogenous Proteins within the Muscles, thereby facilitating Muscle Growth (i.e. it is anabolic).  Glutamine may also prevent the breakdown of Proteins within the Muscles (i.e. it can prevent catabolism) during intensive Exercise.  It also improves Muscle Growth by increasing Muscle cell volumization (increasing the retention of Water within Muscle Fibers).  ^[6]

 Hydroxy Methylbutyrate (HMB) (3,000 mg per day combined with intensive, weight-bearing Exercise) may facilitate Muscle Growth:  ^[7]

 HMB may inhibit the breakdown (catabolism) of Muscle Protein (e.g. Actomyosin).

 Isoleucine (3,500 mg per day used in conjunction with other BCAAs) is often used by bodybuilders to accelerate Muscle Growth. 

 Ketoisocaproate (KIC) may facilitate Muscle Growth by helping to prevent the breakdown of endogenous Proteins within Muscles (i.e. it is anti-catabolic).  It also stimulates the secretion of Insulin from the Pancreas and stimulates the uptake of Insulin into Muscle tissue.  ^[8]

 Leucine (7,000 mg per day used in conjunction with Isotonic Exercise (weight lifting) and other BCAAs) may stimulate Muscle Growth.  ^[9]

 Ornithine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (OKG) may facilitate Muscle Growth (by improving the body''s Nitrogen Balance, by increasing plasma levels of Arginine and Proline, by increasing the body''s release of Human Growth Hormone and Insulin and by increasing the concentration of Glutamine within the Muscles).  ^[10]

 Orotic Acid may facilitate Muscle Growth. 

 Proline may facilitate Muscle Growth (by inhibiting Muscle Loss - i.e. it is anti-catabolic). 

 Serine may be required required for Muscle Growth. 

 Valine (3,500 mg per day used in association with other Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) and Isotonic Exercise (weight lifting)) may facilitate Muscle Growth. 

Growth Factors

 Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) may stimulate the production of endogenous Proteins in Muscle cells (accounting for IGF-1''s unproven potential as a stimulant of Muscle Growth by body-builders):  ^[11]

 Caution:  IGF-1 also stimulates the growth of non-Muscle tissue including Tissues in the Prostate, Thymus, Spleen, Kidneys and may be a negative factor in breast cancer development.