Research

Mixed

Prior endurance training history enhances the acute myogenic gene response (MyoD increase, MAFbx/myostatin decrease) to resistance exercise compared to strength-trained individuals.

If you are an endurance athlete, don't worry that your cardio prevents you from building muscle. A single resistance workout triggers strong muscle-building gene signals (MyoD) and reduces muscle-breakdown signals (myostatin/MAFbx) in your muscles, even more so than in strength athletes.

GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
In ET subjects, MyoD increased (~0.7-fold, NS), but MAFbx (~0.7-fold; NS) and myostatin (~0.6-fold, NS) both decreased after resistance exercise. In ST subjects, the mRNA abundance of the myogenic genes under investigation was not significantly altered by a single bout of resistance exercise.
Vernon G. Coffey et al. · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · 2005

Why this rating

Clear difference in response magnitude and direction between groups.

Source

Interaction of contractile activity and training history on mRNA abundance in skeletal muscle from trained athletes

Vernon G. Coffey et al. · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · 2005

DOI 10.1152/ajpendo.00299.2005

crossover · n=13Cited 146×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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