Research
Micronutrients & recovery
Vitamin D supplementation can suppress myostatin expression and stimulate anabolic pathways (Akt/mTOR, IGF-1), potentially aiding muscle preservation in at-risk populations.
If you are elderly or have a chronic condition, ensuring adequate Vitamin D levels may help support muscle health by influencing myostatin and anabolic pathways. Consult your doctor for appropriate dosing, as thresholds are not yet defined.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Vitamin D acts as a regression suppressor of myostatin expression and increases anabolic pathways. Vitamin D active form (calcitriol (1,25(OH)2D)) in calcitriol binds to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) present in muscle cells resulting in increases in Akt/mTOR signaling and thereby stimulating IGF- 1 activity and promoting satellite cell proliferation.
Why this rating
Based on mechanistic studies and some clinical observations; more work needed to determine thresholds.
Source
Myostatin-driven muscle hypertrophy: a double-edged sword in muscle physiology
Ghisulal Dewasi et al. · Journal of Rare Diseases · 2025
DOI 10.1007/s44162-025-00086-x
narrative_reviewCited 3×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Loss-of-function mutations in the myostatin (MSTN) gene cause excessive skeletal muscle growth (hypertrophy) and increased strength by removing the natural inhibition on muscle development.Good
- Therapeutic inhibition of myostatin using inhibitors or antibodies is a potential treatment for muscle-wasting disorders like Duchenne muscular dystrophy, sarcopenia, and cachexia, but long-term safety and functional integrity are concerns.Moderate
Related findings · Micronutrients & recovery
- Trans fats (industrial trans-fatty acids) are unequivocally harmful and should be completely avoided as they raise LDL-C, TGs, and Apo B while lowering HDL-C.Strong
- For menopausal women with osteoporosis, first-line pharmacologic therapies include alendronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, and denosumab for the prevention of hip, nonvertebral, and vertebral fractures.Strong
- Folic acid fortification of flour prevents neural tube birth defects, and mandatory fortification is more effective than voluntary supplementation alone.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →