The Study
Blocking extracellular activation of myostatin as a strategy for treating muscle wasting
This study tested a new medicine in mice to see if it could make their muscles bigger. It worked in those mice, but that doesn't mean it will work in people. It's like testing a new toy on your pet hamster and saying it will help all kids — it might, but you haven't tried it on kids yet.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists made a special antibody that stops a muscle-blocking protein (myostatin) from becoming active, but only in the muscle — not anywhere else in the body.
Where does this study sit?
Systematic Reviews & Meta-analyses
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control
Max 58Cross-Sectional
Max 44Case Reports & Series
Max 30Expert Opinion
Max 518 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. Considered the gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1This means muscles got bigger and stronger without getting weaker or tired faster — a big deal for treating muscle wasting diseases.
- 2The antibody made mouse muscles 17.5% bigger after one shot, and improved muscle strength by 16–29%.
- 3It did not weaken the muscle’s ability to contract per unit of size.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Scientific Reports
Year
2018
Authors
Michelle Pirruccello-Straub, J. Jackson, Stefan Wawersik, Micah T Webster, L. Salta, K. Long, William K. Mcconaughy, A. Capili, Christopher Boston, G. J. Carven, N. Mahanthappa, Katherine J. Turner, A. Donovan
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.