'Gym pill' for a no-work six-pack

sikdogg · 08-31-2006, 09:11 PM

I guess we can all stop going to the gym and just wait for this pill to be released...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5301112.stm

Quote:

Scientists are racing to develop a muscle drug that could allow people to stay toned without exercising.

The aim is to prevent muscle weakness and wasting in the sick and elderly and to help make long space flights feasible for humans.

But anti-wasting drugs would inevitably be tempting for athletes, experts told New Scientist magazine.

Teams have been studying the genetic pathways controlling how muscle builds up and is broken down in the body.

Gym in a bottle

Tests on rodents showed that manipulating these pathways can halt muscle wastage from disuse or disease.

At least three research groups have identified some of the genes responsible.

Alfred Goldberg and colleagues at Harvard University in the US and a pharmaceutical company Regeneron have found genes called atrogin1 and muRF1 that are active during muscle wasting.

A team at Purdue University, Indiana, has been looking at a gene called erg1.

Scientists are confident that they will soon have a workable therapy ready for testing in humans.

Such drugs could be given to patients confined to bed for more than a few days or to elderly patients to help keep them mobile.

The drugs might mean that people with broken bones could avoid long and painful physiotherapy sessions to rebuild muscle strength.

Weaning people off respirators would also become easier as doctors could prevent wasting of the diaphragm.

NASA is also interested in the medicines because astronauts lose muscle mass on long missions.

Open to abuse

But while there are valid medical and space applications for anti-wasting drugs, they will inevitably be tempting for athletes, Dr Goldberg said.

Experts warn that the although the drugs would maintain muscle size, they would not provide any of the other health benefits of regular exercise.

Professor Paul Greenhaff at Nottingham University in the UK has been conducting similar research into muscle growth and wasting.

He said: "It's extremely exciting and of enormous potential for clinical intervention.

"But we need to do these experiments in patients now.

"And there is a potential for abuse of these drugs," he added.

He said that the role of exercise had been underplayed.

"Contraction of the muscle itself is important. Exercise itself is the most highly potent stimulus of muscle growth.

"We must also look closer at nutrition as well."

He said dietary intake of carbohydrate and protein is known to promote muscle protein synthesis, he said.

Dr Julia Thomas at the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign said: "In order for this treatment to be truly beneficial it is important that muscle strength is also increased and future trials and research will be key in determining whether this is the case."

She said a pill to prevent muscle loss would unfortunately not be able to change the genetic cause of muscular dystrophy, but might slow down the disease progression.

"It is our hope that if this research becomes a workable drug the concentration of its use will be on serious medical conditions, such as muscular dystrophy, rather than for those desiring a 'gym in a bottle'."

10 · 09-01-2006, 03:20 AM

A pill that gives you a six pack???? Yeah, just like there's a pill that'll get you a 9" dick..........

88man · 09-01-2006, 04:27 PM

I think that the bodybuilding industry would love to get their hands on this, especially the pro's! I mean if there is a drug to stop muscle loss, then everyone who is on an extreme cutting diet would have the phisique of their dreams!! No muscle loss only fat! I really dont know if this miracle drug is going to be the miracle that they hoped it would be....good read though.

happy stud · 09-02-2006, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10

A pill that gives you a six pack???? Yeah, just like there's a pill that'll get you a 9" dick..........

I agree 100% 10. People are just too damn lazy to put in the hard work to accomplish anything that is worthwhile. What they should be inventing is a damn anti lazy ass pill.

JonPop · 09-02-2006, 08:09 PM

Well, hell Stud. I'm looking for a pill to make my toes grow. Hee.

kdub · 09-03-2006, 03:02 PM

I always call the juicers at the gym fake fitness freaks. They are in no better shape than an average manual worker off the street. I think its great watching the beefcakes stripping down for a comp on cv machines and dying after 20 mins. Super humans, Fit, nope just just fat people waiting to happen.

10 · 09-03-2006, 03:19 PM

Personally, I'd love for them to invent a pill that gave you the whole "package"......muscle, looks, big dick.........wouldn't that be fuckin' nice. But then, I come back to Earth and realize that that isn't going to ever happen so it's back to the manual workouts and PE for me!!

happy stud · 09-03-2006, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonPop

Well, hell Stud. I'm looking for a pill to make my toes grow. Hee.

Hey JonPop I can save you time and money if you want your toes to get bigger. Just go drop a heavy ass cynder block on them and they will get bigger.

JonPop · 09-03-2006, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happy stud

Hey JonPop I can save you time and money if you want your toes to get bigger. Just go drop a heavy ass cynder block on them and they will get bigger.

Whoa!...Now that's real good advice coming from a "Block Head".

88man · 09-05-2006, 04:27 PM

So that cynder block theory might work for PE?? LOL. Just maybe, Hmmmm.....??...??.... ...............OH SHit, AAAHHHHH !!!!! (crying....)

Betterman · 11-10-2006, 11:34 PM

I prefer vertical sit-ups. The work magnifico.

10 · 11-11-2006, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88man

So that cynder block theory might work for PE?? LOL. Just maybe, Hmmmm.....??...??.... ...............OH SHit, AAAHHHHH !!!!! (crying....)

Yeah, I'd recommend not using a cylinder block on your dick........might hurt just a tad......

Pussylipz · 03-22-2007, 10:06 PM

It sure would swell up nicely though