How Estrogen Plays a Role in Muscle Growth

Muscles get bigger when we exercise, but the science behind it is not as straightforward as it seems. Hormones are key players in this process. For a long time, scientists focused on testosterone in men. But what about estrogen? A new study took a closer look at how estrogen affects muscle growth in both men and women. The research involved 38 young participants, half of whom were women. They went through a 10-week weight training program. Scientists took muscle samples before and after the training to see how estrogen receptors changed and if these changes could predict muscle growth.Here's something interesting: men started with more estrogen receptors in their muscles. After the first workout, both men and women showed a decrease in certain proteins linked to estrogen and muscle growth. However, the changes in estrogen receptors didn't really predict how much their muscles grew. The study also examined satellite cells, which help repair and build muscle. These cells increased in both slow and fast-twitch muscle fibers after training. But again, this didn't seem directly linked to estrogen. So, what's the takeaway? Estrogen might not be the main factor in muscle growth. Other factors might be more important. But the puzzle is still complex, and there's more to discover.