Progesterone and Muscle Health

Progesterone is not only a hormone that maintains the reproductive system. Scientific research found that this versatile hormone can also help build muscle mass, prevent muscle wasting related to chronic diseases, and improve body composition especially in the elderly:
1. In postmenopausal women, progesterone improves muscle mass by increasing muscle protein synthesis rate by as much as 50%. [179-180]
2. Progesterone increases the activity of MYOD1 gene, which helps increase muscle mass. [181-182]
3. In postmenopausal women, administration of the synthetic progesterone progestin increases muscle mass and strength. [183]
4. In nonmenopausal women, progesterone increases skeletal muscle mass. [184]
5. In rats, progesterone supplementation prevents muscle inflammation after strenuous exercise, thus preventing muscle damage that can lead to muscle wasting. [185]
6. Progesterone helps maintain the neuromuscular system by modulating the growth and development of bone, cartilage, ligament, and muscle fibers. [186-187]
7. In rats, progesterone regulates the growth of fat-free tissues and skeletal muscle mass. [188]