Last updated on May 19th, 2025 at 02:35 pm
What Is Anabolism?
Anabolism is a process of metabolism. It is related to building tissues and growth. During the metabolism process, smaller more simpler molecules grow into larger and more complex molecules. One example of anabolism is gluconeogenesis, in which the kidneys and the liver produce glucose from sources that are not carbohydrates.
Several key hormones play a direct role in anabolism and muscle development, including the following:
Testosterone
You need testosterone to build muscle, maintain it, and repair muscle when it is damaged. It is a hormone that encourages protein synthesis in the muscles. In other words, it builds and repairs muscle tissue. Testosterone is also the reason that men’s muscle fibers grow more than women’s muscle fibers.
Testosterone is also the reason that men are stronger. It makes it possible for men’s muscles to contract so that they can perform more forceful movements while they are exercising. Testosterone also limits inflammation and damage to muscles so that they can recover quickly and grow.
If you are concerned that your testosterone levels are too low, testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, may be an option for you. Visit Medzone Clinic to learn about the benefits of TRT.
HGH
When healthy adults receive treatment with human growth hormone or HGH, they gain muscle mass. It is an anabolic hormone that builds muscle tissue and also repairs it when needed.
Insulin
Cells in the pancreas produce insulin, an important anabolic hormone. Insulin’s job is to assist the cells in taking up glucose from the blood and storing it. It stimulates the process that the body uses to build and repair muscle known as “muscle protein synthesis.” It does this by sending glucose and amino acids from the foods we eat to our muscles.
Cortisol
Catabolism is the process of breaking down food during digestion. Cortisol is catabolic, so it breaks down molecules. Because it does this, it prevents protein synthesis from occurring, and this makes it more difficult for you to build muscle. In addition to that, cortisol can increase the rate at which protein breaks down into sugar and amino acids. When this occurs, the body uses this sugar and amino acids as an energy source.
The Importance of Tropic Hormones
Tropic hormones are hormones that regulate the activity of other glands so that they can ensure the proper release of anabolic hormones. Without a healthy balance of these hormones, your body may struggle to produce the necessary signals for muscle growth.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone or ACTH
ACTH is a hormone that the pituitary gland releases, and it triggers the production and release of “the stress hormone,” or cortisol, from the adrenal glands. This is how the body responds when you are experiencing stress. It also stimulates the adrenal glands to produce and release androgens. One androgen is “testosterone.”
Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone or GHRH
GHRH stimulates the pituitary gland to produce and release growth hormone. It is important for human metabolism, or the conversion of food into energy. It is also a hormone that stimulates the release of insulin-like growth factor-1 or IGF-1. This hormone is located in the liver and other organs, and it encourages the tissues to regulate the body’s growth and metabolism. GHRH also assists with memory, food intake, and sleep.
Luteinizing Hormone
Luteinizing hormone is a hormone needed for sexual health. The processes it stimulates are needed for reproduction, sexual development, and sexual health. The pituitary gland is also responsible for releasing luteinizing hormone. When it secretes this hormone, it causes a boy’s testes to produce testosterone.
Luteinizing hormone stimulates changes that maintain a girl’s menstrual cycle. When the time comes, it helps to support pregnancy. For example, before ovulation, luteinizing hormone levels rise. During the third and fourth weeks of the menstrual cycle, luteinizing hormone stimulates the ovaries to produce progesterone. Progesterone will be required to support a pregnancy.
Why You Might Struggle to Gain Muscle
Low Testosterone Levels
With low testosterone levels, the body cannot produce as many muscle fibers, and this makes it nearly impossible to gain muscle mass. This is the case even if you continue with your weight training. Protein synthesis makes it possible for the body to build muscle tissue and repair itself after a workout. If you have a testosterone deficiency, the muscles cannot regenerate. Therefore, your muscle mass and your strength may decrease over time.
If you have low testosterone levels, you can increase the weights, but you will not see any improvements in muscle mass or strength.
Chronic Stress and High Cortisol
Chronic stress leads to high cortisol levels, and these are catabolic processes. We learned earlier that catabolic processes break down molecules, so the body is breaking down muscle tissue to be used as energy. It also prevents anabolic processes from building muscle.
Poor Sleep Quality
Research has shown that nearly 75% of HGH is released while you are asleep. We learned that HGH has a role in growth. Poor sleep quality may be preventing you from receiving the benefits of higher testosterone levels.
Inadequate Protein Levels
Protein is known as a primary building block for the muscles, but if you consume inadequate levels of protein, you do not have sufficient amounts to provide these building blocks. This means that your body does not have sufficient protein to repair the muscles or cause them to increase.
Overtraining without Recovery
Proper weight training requires that you give your body time to rest in between workouts. You must not skip rest periods after engaging in intense workouts. If you continue to push yourself when you should be resting, your body will not continue to experience gains. Instead, overtraining breaks the body down rather than builds it up.
