Do NSAIDs Build Muscle? Robbie Durand Replies!
Written by Robbie Durand
08 April 2008
It is well established that older men have elevated levels of inflammatory
proteins. The elevated levels of inflammatory proteins have been hypothesized
to be one of the mechanims of age related muscle mass loss. The men in the
study were between 60-75 years of age. Older men are in a state of chronic
inflammation, which results in a catabolic state. CHRONIC INFLAMMATION is not
conducive to muscle hypertrophy and has been shown to cause muscle protein
breakdown, reduced levels of anabolic hormones such as testosterone and IGF-1.
Acute Inflammation in response to resistance exercise is essential for muscle
hypertrophy. The acute inflammation response is shortly blunted by the
activation of macrophages and activation of satellite cells. The inflammation
response in bodybuilding is temporary. Bodybuilders can not be compared to
older men with chronic inflammation. The older men in the study likely had
improvements with muscle mass because they had reductions in chronic
inflammatory proteins. Several studies have showed beneficial effects with
drugs that block inflammation in elderly men with CHRONIC INFLAMMATION. For
bodybuilders, taking NSAIDS is going to be detrimental for muscle growth because
it blocks the ACUTE INFLAMMATORY response which is essential for satellite cell
activation.