The Effect of Lemon Myrtle Supplementation on Muscle Hypertrophy in Adults

Lemon myrtle supplementation may impact hypertrophy during resistance training in older adults. However, serious limitations in the study warrant caution.

Overview

• What did they test? The researchers tested the effects of 125 mg of Lemon Myrtle (LM) extract on muscle hypertrophy during 12 weeks of resistance training and after a 6-week detraining period in older adults.
• What did they find? This study showed that individuals who supplemented with LM during resistance training exhibited a relative increase in anterior thigh muscle thickness compared with those who performed resistance training without the supplement. However, these differences were not maintained 6 weeks after stopping the training program while continuing to take the supplement.
• What does it mean for you? Building and maintaining muscle mass throughout life can be a challenge, and sarcopenia is one of the primary predictors of chronic disease progression with age.
  
  Currently, few methods are available for enhancing muscle hypertrophy beyond resistance training and diet. The findings of this study indicate that LM may be a viable supplement for supporting hypertrophy while engaging in a resistance training program. However, serious limitations in the study warrant caution in concluding that there is a benefit. More research by independent labs is necessary.

What’s the Problem?

The significance of preventing muscle sarcopenia in older adults for maintaining long-term health is becoming increasingly recognized 1. Sarcopenia can lead to a variety of health issues, including decreased mobility, increased risk of falls, poor metabolic health, increased cognitive decline, and a reduced overall quality of life.

The primary methods for preventing sarcopenia are resistance training and increasing protein intake 2. However, there is a need for additional options for supporting muscle hypertrophy and preventing sarcopenia with age. Previous research has shown some potential benefit of supplementation with LM for improving hypertrophy in older adults 3. In addition, the active compound in LM, casuarinin, has been shown to activate satellite cells in skeletal muscle 4, suggesting that this may be a viable compound for further study.

Purpose

Supporting muscle hypertrophy and preventing sarcopenia are very important for the maintenance of long-term health and well-being. However, there are limited options outside of resistance training and protein intake to improve muscle hypertrophy. LM has shown some promising potential as a way to support hypertrophy among older adults engaging in resistance training, but it has only been tested with a 250 mg dose. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the effect of a low dose (125 mg/day) LM on muscle hypertrophy and physical function in older adults undergoing 12 weeks of resistance training.

Hypothesis

The authors did not present a hypothesis for this experiment.