Here's a research study looking at how calorie restriction affects muscle hypertrophy. Rats were separated into calorie-restricted and non-calorie restricted groups and then subjected to muscle loading. The surprising result is that the calorie restricted rats actually had greater muscle hypertrophy. The authors believe that this may be due to improved protein synthesis and oxidative capacity.
Though this study was done with rats and not humans, the conclusions are pretty startling. To me, it's just another strike against the idea that you have to force-feed food in order to build muscle.
Here's a research study looking at how calorie restriction affects muscle hypertrophy. Rats were separated into calorie-restricted and non-calorie restricted groups and then subjected to muscle loading. The surprising result is that the calorie restricted rats actually had greater muscle hypertrophy. The authors believe that this may be due to improved protein synthesis and oxidative capacity.
Though this study was done with rats and not humans, the conclusions are pretty startling. To me, it's just another strike against the idea that you have to force-feed food in order to build muscle.