The Claim

Inactivation of the myostatin gene results in increased skeletal muscle mass in humans.

Source: Everyone is About to Become Lean and Muscly (new evidence)

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
81score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
3 studies reviewed
In plain English

When the myostatin gene is turned off in humans, skeletal muscle mass increases.

See the scientific wording

Inactivation of the myostatin gene leads to increased skeletal muscle mass in humans.

Why this might work

When the myostatin gene is turned off, muscles grow larger because the signal that normally stops them from growing is removed. This allows muscle cells to make more proteins and multiply, causing individual muscle fibers to thicken and the overall muscle to get bigger.

Verified mechanismbased on 3 studies

What the research says

3 studies
  1. Study: Cardiac Safety of Chronic Inhibition of the Myostatin-Activin Pathway with Bimagrumab in Healthy Older Adults.

    When scientists blocked a gene called myostatin with a drug, people’s muscles got bigger — just like the claim says. Turning off myostatin lets muscles grow more.

  2. Study: Effect of constitutive inactivation of the myostatin gene on the gain in muscle strength during postnatal growth in two murine models

    When scientists turned off the myostatin gene in mice, the mice grew bigger, stronger muscles. This suggests that doing the same thing in humans would likely make muscles bigger too.

  3. Study: Modulating skeletal muscle mass by postnatal, muscle‐specific inactivation of the myostatin gene

    When scientists turned off the myostatin gene in mice, their muscles got much bigger—exactly what the claim says would happen in humans. This suggests that turning off this gene in people could also make muscles grow larger.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 3 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.