Lab study: tadalafil aids muscle precursor cell survival but delays maturation

Right · 2Researchers in Italy reported a potential association between the erectile dysfunction drug Cialis (tadalafil) and muscle regeneration, in a study published in the journal Molecular Biology Reports. 1 2 Right · 1Over seven days, the team examined how the drug affected the growth, survival and development of mouse muscle cells in the laboratory. 1 Right · 2Tadalafil increased the number of muscle precursor cells, which take part in the early stages of muscle formation, and helped more of them survive; it also showed signs of aiding repair by encouraging growth and reducing cell death. 1 2

Right · 1However, the drug delayed the development of fully mature muscle cells, and the coverage says the findings do not indicate an increase in muscle size or function in humans. 2 Right · 2The researchers acknowledged limitations: the work used mouse models, so results may differ in humans, and the seven-day duration means more research is needed on long-term effects. 1 2 Right · 1Co-author Dr. Cristina Antinozzi of the Endocrinology Unit at the University of Rome Foro Italico called the findings an "encouraging look at how tadalafil might be repurposed to support muscle tissue repair and regeneration", while noting the need to monitor possible misuse in sports and performance contexts. 2

Right · 1Dr. Kien Vuu, a Los Angeles radiologist and founder of VuuMD Performance and Longevity who was not involved, called it an "intriguing early finding" that is "far from proving that Cialis builds muscle or improves recovery in people", since regeneration requires cells to mature and the experiment did not establish that. 2 Right · 1Vuu said animal studies and eventually human trials measuring muscle mass, strength, function and safety are needed; he named resistance training, adequate protein and quality sleep as the most reliable ways to protect muscle with age, warned of dangerous blood pressure drops when tadalafil is combined with nitrates, and advised against taking it for muscle-building based on these findings. 2