Cholesterol helps to build muscles and strength

[Guest guest]

In this presentation from the Experimental Biology meeting in San

Diego (2005), the authors say that subjects with blood cholesterol

less than 178 mg/dl increased their lean mass 0.3±1.6 kg (n=12) and

strength 37±15%. Those with blood cholesterol greater than 238

mg/dl increased their lean mass 2.3±1.7 kg (n=8) and strength 70±31%.

http://www.eb2005-online.com/pdfs/009499.PDF?PHPSE

SSID=1c3b0454d98b47ca5a0cbd6c57920e37

Dietary and Blood Cholesterol and Statins Increase Hypertrophy with

Resistance Training

E Riechman1, D s1, M MacLean2. 1Exercise

Science, Kent State University, 163 MACC Annex, Kent, OH, 44242, 2,

Northern Ontario Medical School, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON,

P3E 2C6, Canada

Purpose: Reports of myotoxic effects of statins prompted the

investigation of cholesterol related factors on skeletal muscle

hypertrophy.

Methods: Prior to RET, generally healthy, 60 – 69 year old men

(N=18) and women (N=29) participated in two-weeks of RET orientation

and nutrition education that emphasized 1 g/kg/day protein. RET was

performed 3x/week, for 12 weeks (8 exercises, 3 sets, 8 – 12

repetitions, at 75% one repetition max). At each RET session,

participants submitted a 24-hour food log and consumed a post exercise

supplement (0.4 g/kg protein, Boost HP). Results: Participants with

dietary cholesterol consumption < 3.5 mg/kg lean mass/day did not

increase their lean mass (-0.2±1.5 kg, n=12) and strength only

increased 36±19%. Cholesterol consumption > 5.7 mg/kg lean mass/day

resulted in a lean mass increase of 2.1±1.7 kg (n=11) and

strength increase of 86±67%. Those with blood cholesterol < 178

mg/dl increased their lean mass 0.3±1.6 kg (n=12) and strength

37±15%. Those with blood cholesterol > 238 mg/dl increased their lean

mass 2.3±1.7 kg (n=8) and strength 70±31%. Multiple regression

analysis (including covariates age, gender, major dietary

constituents) indicated that higher dietary and blood cholesterol and

statin use were independently associated with greater lean mass gain

(R2=0.53, P<0.001). Only dietary cholesterol was associated with

increases in strength. Conclusion: These data suggest that dietary and

blood cholesterol are essential to skeletal muscles' response to

resistance exercise training and that statins improve this response.

Therefore, these findings indicate that extreme cardiovascular risk

reduction should remain focused on specific patient populations.

Support: Novartis, Mead-, NASA NAG-9-1259, NIH RO1 AG21024.