Optimizing Muscle Growth and Training Strategies

This episode of Iron Culture begins with a rant/story by Dr. Trexler that highlights some issues with scientific publishing. He describes a study on apple cider vinegar, his MASS article criticizing the study, and the subsequent letter to the editor (and response from the original authors). This discussion is followed by a Q&A session with Dr. Helms covering protein during weight loss, headaches from creatine, machines for joint comfort, mixing creatine + caffeine, low volume training for hypertrophy, biceps curl variations, fiber recommendations, and more.

The MASS crew records Iron Culture LIVE on YouTube, Monday nights at 7pm eastern time. Be sure to join us for a future episode and say hello in the live chat! 

If you'd like to submit a question or topic for us to address on an upcoming episode, please use this link: 

https://massresearchreview.com/ironculture/

Time stamps:

0:00 Introduction and where to submit your questions https://massresearchreview.com/ironculture/

2:22 Sneak peak into a future MASS article and being careful when reading research

Original Article: Abou-Khalil 2024 Apple cider vinegar for weight management in Lebanese adolescents and young adults with overweight and obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000823

Letter: Improbable data characteristics and extreme effects of apple cider vinegar on weight loss https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2025/02/06/bmjnph-2024-000997

Response to Letter: Abou-Khalil 2024 Comprehensive clarification of statistical and data concerns on the effects of apple cider vinegar on weight loss https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11773656/#R1

21:23 Final thoughts on the papers

28:18 Q&A 1 Protein intake during weight loss? Iron Culture Ep 313 - Is More (and More, and More) Protein Better for Muscle Retention https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWD83HYvJ_g Refalo 2025 Effect of Dietary Protein on Fat-Free Mass in Energy Restricted, Resistance-Trained Individuals: An Updated Systematic Review With Meta-Regression https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/fulltext/9900/effect_of_dietary_protein_on_fat_free_mass_in.179.aspx

30:04 Q&A 2 Headaches as a side-effect of creatine?

35:48 Q&A Rapid Fire: Machines for joints, hypertrophy of biarticular muscles with squats and deadlifts,  

42:27 Q&A Rapid Fire 2: Creatine and caffeine, decaffeinated coffee 

47:45 Q&A 3 Can low volume be optimal for hypertrophy?

51:36 Q&A 4 Hammer curls for maximal bicep gains? Kassiano Distinct muscle growth and strength adaptations after preacher and incline biceps curl https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39809454/ Zabaleta-Korta 2023 Regional Hypertrophy: The Effect of Exercises at Long and Short Muscle Lengths in Recreationally Trained Women https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37559762/

58:30 Q&A 5 Up and downsides of fiber and some practical tips

1:03:05 Q&A Rapid Fire 3: Muscle length and peak contraction, different training for upper and low body, aerobic fitness with time-saving techniques Varovic 2024 Regional Hypertrophy with Resistance Training—Does Muscle Length Matter? https://sportrxiv.org/index.php/server/preprint/view/464#:~:text=In%20summary%2C%20our%20results%20indicate,to%20shorter%20mean%20muscle%20lengths de Salles 2010 Strength increases in upper and lower body are larger with longer inter-set rest intervals in trained men https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19811949/

1:10:41 Closing out another wonderful episode of Iron Culture

--- Music credit:

Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100806

Artist: http://incompetech.com/