Many lifters highly tout the effects of sexual performance enhancers like Cialis in the gym.
They cite greatly increased pumps and decreased recovery time in-between workouts. The World Anti-Doping Agency also banned the active component in Cialis, as Victor Conte was quoted saying, “All my athletes took it. It is bigger than creatine.”
Cialis works like other common sexual performance pills (Viagra, Levitra) by inhibiting an enzyme called phosphodiesterases, which increases vasodilatation. The main advantage of Cialis in particular is that its half-life lasts about 17.5 hours, as opposed to Viagra’s 4-5. For this reason Cialis is dubbed “The Weekend Pill.” Cialis also has the advantage reduced side effects, and food does not effect it’s absorption. According to Robbie Durand, the idea that Cialis increases physical performance by increasing levels of Nitric Oxide does not carry robust scientific backing. In fact, the President of the Medical Commission of the Pan-American Sports Organization, has been quoted stating,
“Scientifically, the only proof that Viagra improves sports performance happened at high altitude. That is why it was decided not to include it in the banned substance list. You will hardly get to play a football match on Mount Everest.”
But this is not the whole story. Research certainly suggests that Nitric Oxide is a primary regulator of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which is responsible for activating satellite cells and affects numerous aspects of muscle cells. Studies out of the Center for Exercise Science in Gainesville, Florida confirmed in mice that increases in NO2 correlated with increases in satellite cell activation.
Durand also cites studies that implied Cialis can increase the ration of testosterone to estradiol, both by increasing testosterone and inhibiting production of estrogen.
If this is the case then Cialis may well increase performance, just over the long term.
Furthermore, no study has measured the effect of Cialis on a pump, which we all know is critical to muscle growth. So until more research comes in, I think the best knowledge is probably held by the bodybuilders and strongmen who swear by the stuff.
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