Why Your Body Needs Testosterone to Build Muscle
Pharmacological hypogonadism impairs molecular transducers of exercise‐induced muscle growth in humans
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Mechanical stress from lifting wasn’t enough to trigger muscle growth without testosterone.
Many believe that lifting weights alone is sufficient to build muscle—this study proves that hormonal environment can completely override mechanical stimulus.
Practical Takeaways
Prioritize lifestyle habits that support healthy testosterone: sleep, stress management, strength training, and balanced nutrition.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Mechanical stress from lifting wasn’t enough to trigger muscle growth without testosterone.
Many believe that lifting weights alone is sufficient to build muscle—this study proves that hormonal environment can completely override mechanical stimulus.
Practical Takeaways
Prioritize lifestyle habits that support healthy testosterone: sleep, stress management, strength training, and balanced nutrition.
Publication
Journal
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle
Year
2022
Authors
N. Gharahdaghi, S. Rudrappa, M. Brook, Wesam F. Farrash, I. Idris, Muhammad Hariz Abdul Aziz, F. Kadi, Konstantinos-Georgios Papaioannou, B. Phillips, T. Sian, P. J. Herrod, D. Wilkinson, N. Szewczyk, Kenneth Smith, P. Atherton
Related Content
Claims (6)
Young guys need their natural testosterone to get the full muscle-building benefits from weightlifting — if their testosterone is blocked with drugs, their muscles don’t grow as much, even if they train just as hard.
Young men with low testosterone don't get the same muscle-building boost from weight training because their bodies don't increase the machinery needed to make new proteins — and that seems to be because they're missing testosterone.
If young guys are given a drug that lowers their testosterone, they don’t build much muscle from weight training—while others with normal testosterone gain about 1.5 kg of muscle in 6 weeks. This shows testosterone is key for getting the most out of lifting weights.
When young men have low testosterone on purpose for the study, their muscles don’t respond as well to weight training at the cellular level — testosterone seems to help muscles fully 'feel' and react to the workout.
Young men need normal testosterone levels to get the full muscle-building benefits from weight training — low testosterone blunts the body’s muscle-growth signals.