Spinach strengthens the muscles

More muscle power through spinach

06/27/2012

According to a study by researchers from the Swedish Karolinska Institute, regular consumption of spinach can help build muscle strength. Green vegetables containing nitrate could be used in the future to strengthen weakened patients or athletes, according to the first résumé of the research team.

Spinach strengthens muscles
The comic hero of the series „Popeye“ became ever stronger after he consumed spinach with his pipe and became unbeatable. The fact that there is a connection between spinach and muscle power was discovered by scientists of the Karolinska Institute in a study. In one experimental setup, mice were given nitrate in spinach and other green vegetables for one week with regular drinking water. A second experimental group of rodents continued to drink normal drinking water. In the study report, the authors summarize in the journal „Journal of Physiology“, the „Adding nitrate could significantly strengthen muscles. Mice that regularly received nitrate had much stronger muscle as a result“.

The daily added amount of nitrate was in proportion to the amount that a person consumes when eating around 200 to 250 grams of spinach every day, said study director Andrés Hernández. However, the salt could not produce a positive effect on slowly twitching muscles. „Nitrate had no effect on slow-twitch muscle fibers“, the researchers write. The special fibers are used when low-threshold efforts are carried out. An effect could but in the fast-twitch „Fast-twitch fibers“ to be observed. These are activated when greater effort is required. „We were able to measure significant changes“, explained the author Hernández.

Nitrate activates muscle protein
The researchers suspect that the nitrate increases the concentration of two proteins contained in the muscles. The starched proteins apparently cause an increased concentration of calcium in the muscles. That in turn strengthens muscle growth. The results could now be used for further studies. Hernández thinks of the uses in the sport sector or in the treatment of muscle diseases or muscle weakness in old age. Therefore, further clinical investigations will follow, as Hernández emphasized.

However, the question remains as to which dosage of nitrosamine makes sense. Further investigations must clarify which amounts of nitrate are optimal to prevent unwanted side effects. Indeed „Nitrates have a bad reputation“, as the study authors already explained in a previous study. The regular but moderate consumption of spinach or green vegetables can already be recommended to athletes. (Sb)

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Image: Maja Dumat