Smoking reduces muscle growth?

Is smoking bad for muscle growth?

Smoking increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases and a variety of cancers. But is smoking also bad for your muscles?

This study compared basal muscle protein synthesis rates (the process driving muscle adaptations) between long-term smokers (20 cigarettes per day for 20 years) and non-smokers.

Muscle protein synthesis was 37% lower in smokers compared to non-smokers.

In addition, several genes related to muscle breakdown were elevated in the smokers compared to the non-smokers.

How smoking impairs muscle protein synthesis is not clear. A possible explanation is that chronic smoking reduces skeletal muscle blood flow. Therefore, less nutrients may be delivered to muscle.

It should be noted that this study investigated basal (i.e. fasted and in rest) muscle protein synthesis. Whether muscle protein synthesis is still lower in smokers when exercise is performed or when protein is ingested is not known.

Study:
Petersen et al. Smoking impairs muscle protein synthesis and increases the expression of myostatin and MAFbx in muscle. Am J Physiol Endo Met. 2007 

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