Blogging About The Truth To Gain Weight & Build Muscle Mass!

In order for muscle building to take place certain hormones within the body have to be stimulated and triggered to help out in the process. The main hormone that does this is testosterone, which just so happens to be the most popular anabolic steroid used by many in search of greater gains in muscle building. Another hormone that has also been thought to be a big weapon in increasing muscle mass is IGF-1, also known as Insulin-like Growth Factor. Well, a recent study states that it does not really add to the amount of actual muscle mass one gains.

According to the Journal Physiology, 586.1: 283-291, 2008, a study that was done at the University of Maryland and conducted by Espen Spangenburg, two different groups of rats were used. One set were forced to “workout” or “train” while being injected with the hormone IGF-1, while the second group was put through the same workout program, but without having been given Insulin-like Growth Factor.

Well, by the study’s end, it was found that the rats that were given the injections of the hormone did not build any additional muscle mass than the group of rats that weren’t given IGF-1! In other words, it provided no additional advantage.

Interesting study to think about the next time you feel that you may gain or build more muscle if you were to use IGF-1….although the study was conducted in animals, not humans. Like any other study, you have to take into consideration all factors involved and the context surrounding the study, but it’s interesting none the less in regards to muscle building potential, or lack thereof.