Research

Hormonal

Pharmacological inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) using enalapril (20 mg/day) during 8 weeks of high-intensity training significantly attenuates exercise-induced increases in lean body mass in healthy adults, while peripheral muscle adaptations and aerobic performance remain unaffected.

If you are taking ACE inhibitors (like enalapril or lisinopril) for blood pressure, be aware that these medications may blunt your muscle growth potential compared to not taking them. This does not mean you cannot build strength or endurance, but your muscle mass gains may be reduced. Focus on consistent training and nutrition, and consult your doctor before making any medication changes.

GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
Lean body mass increased by ~3% in the placebo group but remained unchanged with ACE inhibitor treatment, directly demonstrating that reduced ACE activity can blunt exercise-induced hypertrophy.
Tórur Sjúrðarson et al. · The Journal of Physiology · 2025

Why this rating

Based on a specific, well-controlled human intervention study (Sjúrðarson et al., 2022, 2023) cited in the review, though the review itself is a synthesis.

Source

Angiotensin‐converting enzyme and exercise adaptations: Genetic variability, pharmacological modulation and future directions

Tórur Sjúrðarson et al. · The Journal of Physiology · 2025

DOI 10.1113/jp288202

narrative_reviewCited 3×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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