The Claim

Higher muscle mass, as measured by creatinine excretion rate indexed to height squared (CERI), is independently associated with a 17% lower risk of all-cause mortality per standard deviation increase over a 10-year period in adults aged 28–75, after adjustment for protein intake, inflammation, and metabolic disease.

Source: Higher circulating FGF21, lower protein intake, and lower muscle mass: Associations with a higher risk of mortality

What the research says

Supports is higher

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

Supports
60score
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.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Adults aged 28–75 with higher muscle mass, measured by creatinine excretion relative to height, have a 17% lower risk of dying from any cause over 10 years, even when accounting for protein intake, inflammation, and metabolic disease.

See the scientific wording

Higher muscle mass, measured by creatinine excretion rate indexed to height squared (CERI), is independently associated with a 17% lower risk of all-cause mortality per standard deviation increase over 10 years in adults aged 28–75, even after adjusting for protein intake, inflammation, and metabolic disease.

Why this might work

When protein intake is too low, the liver releases a signaling molecule that tells muscles to break down their own proteins and recycle damaged parts, causing muscle to shrink. Smaller muscles reduce the body’s ability to handle stress, fight infection, and maintain energy balance, making death from any cause more likely.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Higher circulating FGF21, lower protein intake, and lower muscle mass: Associations with a higher risk of mortality

    People with more muscle, as estimated by how much creatinine they pee out relative to their height, were 17% less likely to die over 10 years — even if they ate the same amount of protein or had metabolic issues. Muscle mass itself was linked to living longer.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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