Here’s an interesting new study which suggests that a higher intake of cholesterol is associated with improvements in strength and muscle gain in response to exercise. As you might guess, these results were a quite a surprise to the researchers.
In a study at Texas A&M University, researchers studied 55 men and women, between 60 and 69 years of age for 12 weeks. Three times a week the participants performed stretching, vigorous weight lifting and stationary bike riding exercises.
At the end of the study, the researchers found that those who consumed the most cholesterol had the highest gains in muscle and strength. They also found that those who restricted their intake of cholesterol in combination with exercise showed lower gains in muscle than those who did not.
According to the researchers, a possible explanation may be cholesterol’s role in the inflammation process. They suggest that an inflammatory response may be beneficial in the building and repair of muscle.