Research Update: Creatine and Myostatin

Posted at 10:48 on Aug 27, 2010 by Muscle Blog

As one of the most well-researched nutrients in sports nutrition history, there are literally hundreds of studies to show that creatine is a highly effective way to boost gains in muscle size, strength and power.

But the research keeps coming in, with new studies showing HOW creatine works as well as uncovering some surprising new benefits.

Ironman magazine reports on a newly published creatine study focused on how combining it with weight training boosts muscle growth.

The 8-week study took a group of 27 men and divided them into two groups, with one group training and using a placebo and the other group training the same way but taking creatine. The creatine group followed the typical creatine loading protocol, followed by a maintenance dose after that.

The researchers took blood samples at 0, 4 and 8 weeks, and measured levels of a protein called myostatin.

What is myostatin?

Myostatin is expressed in developing and mature muscle tissue. A specific gene encodes for the transcription of the myostatin protein, which is a "negative regulator" of muscle growth. What this means is that it normally restrains muscle growth, ensuring that muscles don't get too big.

Much of the early research on myostatin has been conducted in animals. In mice where myostatin has been "knocked out", individual muscles weigh twice as much as those of normal mice. In simple terms, if you want to build muscle, the less myostatin the better.

Take a look at the size of these Belgian Blue cattle. The sculpted, heavily muscled appearance is known as "double muscling", which is due to a natural mutation of the gene that codes for myostatin.

After 8 weeks, the group who lifted weights and took the placebo had a significant decrease in myostatin levels.

However, the group that took creatine had an even GREATER drop in myostatin.

Remember that myostatin is a negative regulator of muscle growth – less myostatin means faster muscle growth.

This is the first study to show that creatine added to a resistance training program amplifies the training-induced drop in myostatin levels, which could help to explain why creatine users gain muscle strength and size more quickly.

Of course, creatine isn’t enough going to give you the freaky “double muscled” look of the Belgian Blue! But if you want to gain size and strength more quickly than you would with training alone, then creatine has been proven to deliver results.

Editor’s note: Cyclone is our most popular and best-selling “all-in-one” muscle builder and contains all the creatine you need for faster muscle-building results. In a recent review by Muscle & Fitness magazine, all but one of the ingredients in Cyclone, including whey protein isolate, whey protein hydrolysates, Glutamax®, creatine monohydrate, HMB, sodium bicarbonate, beta ecdysterone and chromium got top marks – a full 5 out of 5. See all the Cyclone special offers here.

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