Hormonal
High-dose chronic NSAID (ibuprofen) administration blunts muscle hypertrophy and strength gains in young adults undergoing resistance training, likely by inhibiting the COX pathway and prostanoid synthesis required for satellite cell activity and myonuclear accretion.
If your goal is maximum muscle growth, avoid taking high-dose NSAIDs like ibuprofen (1200mg/day) daily during your training blocks. While they reduce pain, they likely blunt your muscle gains by interfering with the biological signals needed for repair. Save them for occasional use if necessary, but do not rely on them as a daily recovery tool.
The authors found that high-dose intake of ibuprofen throughout the study period significantly attenuated gains in quadriceps muscle mass compared to a low-dose provision of aspirin... the findings clearly indicate that the COX pathway and its associated synthesis of prostaglandins play an important role in the hypertrophic response to resistance training.
Why this rating
Based on a specific, well-designed longitudinal study (Lilja et al.) with clear mechanistic backing, though it is a single study cited in an editorial.
Source
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs may blunt more than pain
Brad J. Schöenfeld · Acta Physiologica · 2017
DOI 10.1111/apha.12990
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