ergo-log.com

Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "

30.12.2021

Combination of resveratrol, astaxanthin and beta-carotene may accelerate muscle growth

According to an animal study from Japan, a combination of resveratrol, astaxanthin and beta-carotene may accelerate muscle growth in strength athletes.

Study
Aki Kawamura, a researcher from Nippon Sport Science University, made it impossible for mice to use their hind legs for three weeks.

During this period, the muscles in the inactive part of the body atrophied. After the period, the animals regained control of their hind legs, and the muscles became bigger and stronger again.

In fundamental studies, researchers see this type of study as a way to imitate the effect of strength training on muscles in animal studies.

Kawamura recorded the growth of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles during the first 2 weeks after the mice were able to use their hind legs again.

Some of the animals were given standard feed [Normal] during that period. Other groups were given food in which Kawamura had added resveratrol, astaxanthin or beta-carotene. If the mice had been adult humans, they would have ingested about 500 milligrams of each substance per day. That is a lot.

A group of mice was given resveratrol, astaxanthin and beta-carotene [Mixed].

Results
Supplementation with resveratrol, astaxanthin and beta-carotene accelerated muscle growth in the soleus of the mice, but had no effect on the gastrocnemius of the experimental animals.

Click on the figure for a larger version.

You can see below how the combination of phytochemicals brought about muscle growth. The individual components of the cocktail had no effect, but in combination they increased the activity of the anabolic signaling molecules mTOR and 70S6K.

Conclusion
Of course mice are not humans. Only a fraction of all substances with positive health effects in animal studies have a similar effect in humans. We will write shortly about the effects of the resveratrol-astaxanthin-beta-carotene-combination in humans.

Source:
Nutrition. 2020 Jan;69:110561.

More:
Supplementing with astaxanthin turns walking into bodybuilding 20.10.2019
Carotenoids versus muscle atrophy? 07.02.2018

Archives:
Unusual Muscle Building Strategies
Carotenoids
Resveratrol

How pumpkin may reduce muscle breakdown An in vitro study that Polish biochemists published in Molecules suggests that substances in pumpkin can slow down the breakdown of proteins by aggressive molecules.	Pumpkin boosts endurance capacity and muscle strength In fifteen years from now endurance athletes will no longer fuel themselves with pasta, bread and rice before a race, but with pumpkin soup. Or they'll use supplements containing a pumpkin extract.	More tomato juice, stronger muscles During the aging process, the retention of muscle strength, and perhaps also the building of muscle strength, becomes easier as you consume more tomatoes and more tomato products such as tomato juice and paste.