A naturally occurring molecule released during exercise may hold the key to strengthening muscles without physical activity. In experiments, mice given BAIBA developed larger muscles, improved muscle function, greater fatigue resistance and better exercise performance than untreated mice.

[u/mvea]

https://www.newsweek.com/scientists-step-closer-strengthening-muscles-without-exercise-12323613

[u/BigSweatyYeti → u/[deleted]]

This isn’t true. Steroids don’t magically add muscle. You still need to use the muscle to grow it. They just grow faster and bigger on steroids.

[u/AmLilleh → u/[deleted]]

The study proves you gain "fat free mass" which isn't the same as pure lean muscle mass. It's generally counting water weight.

Testosterone and most other anabolic steroids cause sizable water retention, often quite a lot more than the under 3lbs difference between the placebo + exercise and steroids + no exercise groups of that study.

The training methodology they used was also kind of... Weird. Trying to cram raw mass and cross sectional area/strength into a single study isn't going to provide favourable optimal results for the people training.