Body composition
Did people actually get stronger, or just bigger?
Measured strength, not measured size. A compound can add lean mass on a scan and move nothing a person can feel.
2,413
people in trials
30
human studies
3
compounds, animal or cell only
10
trials found nothing
Measured in people
Ranked by how many people, which is a fact about the evidence and not a judgement about the compound. The one at the top is the most studied, which is not the same as the best. Counts are never added across compounds, because the same person can appear in more than one trial.
- 603 people1 human study
CREATE: 603 people with estimated GFR 15 to 35 randomised to a normal (13.0 to 15.0 g/dL) or subnormal (10.5 to 11.5 g/dL) haemoglobin target using epoetin beta, 3 years. First cardiovascular events 58 versus 47, hazard ratio 0.78, 95 percent confidence interval 0.53 to 1.14, p = 0.20. More people in the normalisation group needed dialysis, 127 versus 111, p = 0.03. General health and physical function scores improved. Sponsor Hoffmann-La Roche.
New England Journal of Medicine, 2006 · 603 people
- 538 people1 human study
Whole purified venom, not melittin. 538 patients with knee osteoarthritis randomised 1:2 to histamine control or 100 mcg venom in 15 dermal injections at acupuncture points weekly for 12 weeks. WOMAC pain improved 1.1 points more than control (95% CI 0.3 to 2.0, p = 0.001) and physical function 3.1 points (p = 0.0046). Injection site reactions under 5 percent. Described as a phase 3; funding not stated in the abstract.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2019 · 538 people
- 299 people1 human study1 found nothing
found nothing299 participants randomised to placebo or 2 g a day of carnosine, with hand grip strength, bilateral calf raise, two-minute step test and gait speed measured at baseline and at roughly 6 and 12 weeks. Results were subgroup-only: a significant increase in calf raises at visit 3 in participants under 40 (P equal to 0.018), and a significant increase in step count at visit 4 in males over 40 (P equal to 0.010). No significant differences were observed on any other physical performance measure, and the authors state the benefits appeared to be limited to males.
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2026 · 299 people
- 233 people2 human studies1 found nothing
found nothingThe pharmaceutical-grade version of this molecule in 233 older adults with sarcopenia. The primary endpoint, gait speed on a 400-metre walk, improved 0.07 m/s against placebo in the full analysis set and was not significant, and improved 0.09 m/s in the per-protocol population at p = 0.008. Detail on the BIO101 page.
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 2025 · 233 people
A controlled clinical trial in humans. Significantly higher increases in muscle mass in participants dosed with ecdysterone, and significantly more pronounced increases in one-repetition bench press performance. The same hypertrophic effect appeared in C2C12 myotubes in vitro. No increase in liver or kidney toxicity biomarkers. Participants were screened for prohibited performance-enhancing substances and the supplement was tested for anabolic steroid contamination before administration. The authors conclude their results strongly suggest including ecdysterone on the prohibited list in class S1.2, other anabolic agents.
Archives of Toxicology, 2019 · no headcount in the line
- 201 people1 human study1 found nothing
found nothing201 older adults randomised, 99 to placebo and 102 to the antibody, from 365 screened. At 24 weeks appendicular lean body mass changed by minus 0.123 kg on placebo and plus 0.303 kg on drug, a difference of 0.43 kg (95% CI 0.192 to 0.660, p < 0.0001). On function: twelve-step stair climb minus 1.28 s (p = 0.011), four-step stair climb minus 0.46 s (p = 0.093), chair rise with arms minus 4.15 s (p = 0.054), fast gait speed plus 0.05 m/s (p = 0.088), tested against a prespecified two-sided alpha of 0.1 for performance tests. No effect on other performance measures. Injection site reactions in 30% on drug against 9% on placebo (p < 0.0001). Funded by Eli Lilly.
Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, 2015 · 201 people
- 123 people1 human study
123 elderly hip-fracture patients: gait speed improved and IGF-1 rose, but most functional measures did not, and the trial was terminated early over a congestive heart failure safety signal.
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 2011 · 123 people
- 116 people1 human study
116 adults with Becker, facioscapulohumeral or limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, across four dose cohorts from 1 to 30 mg/kg. Safety and tolerability were good apart from cutaneous hypersensitivity at 10 and 30 mg/kg. Verbatim: there were no improvements noted in exploratory end points of muscle strength or function, though the study was not powered for efficacy. Bioactivity was supported by a trend toward increased muscle size on DXA and histology in a limited number of subjects.
Annals of Neurology, 2008 · 116 people
- 90 people1 human study
90 patients: 6 months of NR improved 6-minute walk distance by 17.6 m versus placebo, a first functional outcome.
Nature Communications, 2024 · 90 people
- 80 people1 human study1 found nothing
found nothing60-day RCT in 80 adults: 300 to 900 mg/day raised blood NAD and modestly improved six-minute walk distance; well tolerated; HOMA-IR unchanged.
GeroScience, 2023 · 80 people
- 50 people1 human study1 found nothing
found nothingSARA-INT. 233 randomised, mean age 75.5, 54.3% female, three arms at 175 mg twice daily, 350 mg twice daily or placebo, planned six months and up to nine in 50 subjects. Eligibility required meeting FNIH sarcopenia criteria and a Short Physical Performance Battery score of 8 or less out of 12. Primary endpoint was change in gait speed on the 400-metre walk test. At 350 mg twice daily, gait speed improved 0.07 m/s against placebo in the full analysis set, not significant, and 0.09 m/s in the per-protocol population, p = 0.008. COVID-19 cost 55% of on-site end-of-treatment efficacy assessments, reducing power. Predefined higher-risk subpopulations showed effects of 0.047 to 0.066 m/s with a trend toward dose response. Safety was good, with related treatment-emergent adverse events in 16.0%, 13.3% and 13.5% of the placebo, 175 mg and 350 mg groups. Many authors are employees, former employees, advisory board members or consultants of the sponsor, Biophytis.
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 2025 · 50 people
- 30 people1 human study1 found nothing
found nothing30 healthy men, mean age 71, randomised to 2.5 g leucine or placebo with each main meal, 7.5 g daily for three months. No change in skeletal muscle mass measured by computed tomography and DXA, and no change in one-repetition-maximum strength, in either group. No improvement in whole-body insulin sensitivity, HbA1c or plasma lipids.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2009 · 30 people
- 14 people2 human studies
14 patients: D+Q was feasible and improved 6-minute walk, gait speed and chair-stand time; no control group.
EBioMedicine, 2019 · 14 people
The same team's open-label pilot repeated with a placebo arm, n=12: frailty, pulmonary and physical function did not appear to differ meaningfully between groups, and the drug arm reported 65 non-serious adverse events against 22 on placebo.
EBioMedicine, 2023 · no headcount in the line
- 14 people2 human studies
Open-label pilot in 14 IPF patients: improved physical function measures; adverse events mostly mild to moderate.
EBioMedicine, 2019 · 14 people
The same team's open-label pilot repeated with a placebo arm, n=12: frailty, pulmonary and physical function did not appear to differ meaningfully between groups, and the drug arm reported 65 non-serious adverse events against 22 on placebo.
EBioMedicine, 2023 · no headcount in the line
Also measured, in animals or cells
Intermittent D+Q in old mice improved physical function and extended remaining lifespan by about 36%.
Nature Medicine, 2018 · animal
- 12 people2 human studies
AAV1-delivered FS344 injected into the quadriceps of six patients: four improved six-minute walk distance (29 to 125 m), no adverse effects, reduced fibrosis on biopsy.
Molecular Therapy, 2015 · 6 people
Six treated patients gained a median 56 m/year on six-minute walk versus a 26 m/year decline in matched untreated controls; small, non-randomized.
Molecular Therapy, 2017 · 6 people
- 10 people1 human study
Ten Barth syndrome patients in the open-label extension: 6-minute walk distance improved cumulatively by 96.1 m at week 168 with injection-site reactions the most common adverse event.
Genetics in Medicine, 2024 · 10 people
- no headcount stated2 human studies1 found nothing
found nothing4 months of urolithin A improved muscle endurance and plasma biomarkers, though 6-minute walk and peak ATP did not differ from placebo.
JAMA Network Open, 2022 · no headcount in the line
About 12% gain in muscle strength and improved VO2 peak and 6-minute walk, though the primary peak-power endpoint was not met.
Cell Reports Medicine, 2022 · no headcount in the line
- no headcount stated1 human study
The trial was stopped after the second dose level because of epistaxis and telangiectasias; only non-significant trends toward preserved six-minute walk and higher lean mass were seen.
Muscle and Nerve, 2017 · no headcount in the line
- no headcount stated1 human study
24 weeks of GlyNAC in older adults corrected glutathione deficiency and improved strength, gait speed and cognition; benefits faded after stopping.
Clinical and Translational Medicine, 2021 · no headcount in the line
- no headcount stated1 human study
Mouse data plus an initial proof-of-concept in humans: 7 days of (-)-epicatechin increased hand grip strength and the plasma follistatin to myostatin ratio. Small, uncontrolled and short; this is the study most supplement marketing traces back to.
Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2014 · no headcount in the line
- no headcount stated1 human study
The human trial turkesterone's reputation is borrowed from, and it tested a different molecule. Ecdysterone increased muscle mass and one-repetition bench press performance in a controlled human trial. Nothing in it concerns turkesterone.
Archives of Toxicology, 2019 · no headcount in the line
- no headcount stated1 human study1 found nothing
found nothingThe T-Trials. Treatment raised testosterone into the mid-normal range for men aged 19 to 40. Sexual activity, sexual desire and erectile function all improved significantly. Vitality did not improve on the fatigue scale. The proportion improving 6-minute walking distance by at least 50 m did not differ in the Physical Function Trial but did when all three trials were pooled, 20.5% against 12.6%, p = 0.003. Mood and depressive symptoms were slightly better. Adverse event rates were similar.
New England Journal of Medicine, 2016 · no headcount in the line
- no headcount stated1 human study1 found nothing
found nothingRandomised 2:1, 30 overweight or obese adults aged 45 and over, MIB-626 two 500 mg tablets twice daily for 28 days. Body weight fell 1.9 kg (95 percent CI -3.3 to -0.5, P=.008), diastolic blood pressure fell 7.01 mmHg (-13.44 to -0.59, P=.034), total cholesterol fell 26.89 mg/dL (P=.004) and LDL fell 18.73 mg/dL (P=.007). Muscle strength, muscle fatigability, aerobic capacity and stair-climbing power did not change. Insulin sensitivity, hepatic fat and intra-abdominal fat did not change in either group. Metro International Biotech, the manufacturer, is a listed funder. This is a physiologic study with multiple outcomes rather than a trial powered on one of them.
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2023 · no headcount in the line
- no headcount stated1 human study1 found nothing
found nothingIncluded as the contrast, and it is not urolithin B. This is a randomised trial of urolithin A in older adults, in which muscle endurance and plasma biomarkers improved while the six-minute walk and peak ATP did not differ from placebo. Urolithin B has no trial of this kind, or of any kind.
JAMA Network Open, 2022 · no headcount in the line
- no headcount stated1 human study
As previously published, MMPOWER-3 did not demonstrate a significant benefit of elamipretide in a genotypically diverse adult population with primary mitochondrial myopathy. In post hoc analysis the mitochondrial DNA replisome cohort improved 25.2 plus or minus 8.7 metres on the six-minute walk test against 2.0 plus or minus 8.6 metres on placebo at p = 0.06, and the subset with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia improved 37.3 plus or minus 9.5 metres against a 8.0 metre decline at p = 0.0024. These analyses were designed to inform a follow-up phase 3 trial.
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 2024 · no headcount in the line
- no headcount stated1 human study
MMPOWER-3 as published did not demonstrate a significant benefit of elamipretide in a genotypically diverse adult population with primary mitochondrial myopathy. Post hoc, the mitochondrial DNA replisome cohort improved 25.2 metres on the six-minute walk against 2.0 metres on placebo at p = 0.06, and the chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia subset improved 37.3 metres against a 8.0 metre decline at p = 0.0024.
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 2024 · no headcount in the line
Measured in animals or cells, not yet in people
These are separated from the trials above rather than ranked against them, because they answer a different question. A result in a rat is a real result and a reason somebody ran the study; it is not a measurement of what happens in you. Where the human work is missing, the reason is usually money rather than failure, and that is set out at the bottom of this page.
- 1 preclinical study
Measured in animals or cells
Human cells in culture plus aged mice. Senescent human preadipocytes and HUVECs developed a SASP that was suppressed by JAK-pathway RNAi or JAK inhibitors, and conditioned medium from JAK-inhibitor-treated senescent cells was much less proinflammatory. Giving a JAK inhibitor to aged mice for 10 weeks alleviated adipose and systemic inflammation and enhanced physical function. The authors state their findings are consistent with a possible contribution of senescent cells to age-related frailty and speculate about SASP inhibition; they do not report a human outcome.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2015 · animal
- 1 preclinical study
Measured in animals or cells
Mayo Clinic. In human lung fibroblasts and DNA-repair-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts, zoledronic acid killed senescent cells with minimal effect on non-senescent cells. In aged mice treated for eight weeks it significantly reduced circulating SASP factors including CCL7, IL-1 beta, TNFRSF1A and TGF beta 1, and improved grip strength. Cell and mouse work proposing a senolytic or senomorphic mechanism for the non-skeletal effects; it does not test the mortality question in people.
Aging (Albany NY), 2023 · animal
- 1 preclinical study
Measured in animals or cells
found nothingThe preclinical characterisation. Mouse disease models. Reports enhanced muscle strength, which is notable precisely because that is the endpoint the three earlier antibodies failed to move in humans. Animal work, and the site keeps that separate from human evidence for exactly this reason.
Scientific Reports, 2021 · animal
Why the trial record looks like this
A missing trial is usually a missing sponsor. Nobody runs a nine-figure programme on a molecule they cannot own, so the compounds with the thinnest human records are often the oldest and most freely available ones rather than the weakest. Taking Ruxolitinib as the example, because it states the problem most clearly:
The gap between what ruxolitinib has been shown to do and what it is being discussed as doing is unusually wide, and the boxed warning belongs on the same page as the senomorphic claim rather than in a footnote.
The class safety signal is real and it came from a randomised trial. The JAK inhibitor boxed warning covering serious infections, higher all-cause mortality, malignancy, major adverse cardiovascular events and thrombosis was applied across the class after safety findings in inflammatory disease, and it appears on the topical ruxolitinib label. The oral product, approved earlier and for cancer, does not carry a boxed warning, but does carry labelled warnings for cytopenias, serious infection, skin cancer, cardiovascular events, thrombosis and secondary malignancies. A person considering a JAK inhibitor for inflammation of ageing is much closer to the inflammatory-disease population that generated the warning than to the myelofibrosis population that generated the efficacy data.
The senomorphic and senolytic distinction also changes the risk arithmetic. A senolytic is given in short pulses because the cells it kills take time to come back, so exposure is intermittent. A senomorphic only works while it is present, which means continuous exposure to an immunosuppressant, indefinitely, for a benefit measured so far in aged mice.
A compound appears here only when a citation on its own page states this outcome and reports a result for it; naming it is not enough. Human, animal and cell work are counted separately and never merged. Participant counts are read from the study lines and deliberately undercount. Nothing here is advice, and nothing here is a recommendation to take or to avoid anything.