Most people who have tried to build lean muscle have taken nutritional supplements at some point in time.
And unfortunately, most of those supposedly magical all-natural / herbal remedies just don’t work … especially for those of us “hard gainers” who seem to struggle with growing new muscle.
But in this article, we will uncover three of the best muscle building, all natural supplements for both women and men that actually work in human clinical trials. That’s right–all of these are backed by real, credible research studies. [Anecdotally, I can attest to having personally used and seen great results when using this supplement stack!]
We won’t keep you waiting … let’s jump right in.
Best Supplements to Build Muscle
Protein Powder for Lean Muscle Gain
Protein helps build, maintain, and replace the tissues in your body. Your muscles, organs, and immune system are made up mostly of protein, which is why it’s the most important nutrient if you want to build muscle.
Many people, particularly those who adhere to a plant-based diet, struggle to get enough protein to gain any muscle.
That’s where protein powder supplements can help. But first …
Plant vs Whey (Animal Protein): Which Is Better for Building Muscle?
There is not a significant body of evidence to support whey and other animal-based protein powders as being more effective than plant-based protein sources for building muscle.
- A 2021 study found that whey and plant (soy) protein were equally effective in supporting lean muscle gains.
- A 2019 study showed similar body composition improvements after taking whey and pea (plant-based) protein for 8 weeks.
- A 2015 study found that supplementing with pea protein produced similar muscle gains to whey protein.
And since an estimated 68% of people are lactose intolerant, it stands to reason that many folks probably not be consuming dairy-based proteins like whey.
There are other animal-based proteins like collagen but they haven’t been studied as extensively for building muscle as whey and certain plant proteins. Some studies have shown that collagen may not be as effective as whey for muscle protein synthesis.
Regardless of which source you decide is best for you, one thing is for certain: protein powders work if your goal is losing fat and gaining lean muscle. Here’s proof …
Protein Powder Benefits
Here are some known benefits:
| Research Study | Findings |
| The effects of protein supplements on muscle mass, strength, and aerobic and anaerobic power in healthy adults: a systematic review | Protein supplementation may promote muscle hypertrophy and enhance gains in muscle strength in both untrained and trained individuals. Evidence also suggests that protein supplementation may accelerate gains in both aerobic and anaerobic power. |
| Protein Supplements and Their Relation with Nutrition, Microbiota Composition and Health: Is More Protein Always Better for Sportspeople? | While studies on athletes have shown that protein and amino acid supplements may increase MPS and reduce fatigue, muscle soreness and low-to-moderate exercise-induced damage, current studies showing clear negative effects associated with high-protein diets or, e.g. BCAA supplements, are mainly reported in subjects with some type of metabolic disturbances. |
| Intake of whey isolate supplement and muscle mass gains in young healthy adults when combined with resistance training: a blinded randomized clinical trial | Supplementation with whey protein, combined with RT can increase muscle mass with no effects on muscle strength. Whey protein supplementation may alter body composition in favor of additional fat free mass with no significant changes in body fat. |
| Effects of Protein Supplementation on Performance and Recovery in Resistance and Endurance Training | There is robust evidence which shows that consuming protein pre- and/or post-workout induces a significant rise in muscle protein synthesis. |
| A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults | Dietary protein supplementation significantly enhanced changes in muscle strength and size during prolonged resistance exercise training in healthy adults. Increasing age reduces and training experience increases the efficacy of protein supplementation during resistance exercise. |
| The Effects of Protein Supplements on Muscle Mass, Strength, and Aerobic and Anaerobic Power in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review | For untrained individuals, consuming supplemental protein likely has no impact on lean mass and muscle strength during the initial weeks of resistance training. However, as the duration, frequency, and volume of resistance training increase, protein supplementation may promote muscle hypertrophy and enhance gains in muscle strength in both untrained and trained individuals. Evidence also suggests that protein supplementation may accelerate gains in both aerobic and anaerobic power. |
| The Effects of Protein Supplements on Muscle Mass, Strength, and Aerobic and Anaerobic Power in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review | Protein supplementation may enhance muscle mass and performance when the training stimulus is adequate (e.g., frequency, volume, duration), and dietary intake is consistent with recommendations for physically active individuals. |
How Much Protein Do YOU Need? Find out in this FREE guide.
Protein Powder Side Effects
Since protein powders are dietary supplements, the FDA leaves it up to manufacturers to evaluate the safety and labeling of products. So first, ensure that whatever protein powder you’re using is routinely third party tested for mold, pathogens, and heavy metals. Supplement manufacturers should have COAs they can share with you and if they don’t, it’s definitely a red flag!
Some research suggests that whey protein might cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
However, there’s limited data on the possible side effects of high protein intake from a combination of food and supplements.
Don’t use whey protein if you have an allergy or sensitivity to dairy products.
Possible interactions include:
- Albendazole (Albenza). Avoid using whey protein if you are taking this parasite-killing drug. The supplement might delay or hinder the drug’s effects.
- Alendronate (Fosamax). Use of whey protein with this drug used to prevent or treat osteoporosis might decrease absorption of the drug.
- Certain antibiotics. Use of whey protein with quinolone or tetracycline antibiotics might decrease your absorption of the drug.
Plant protein powders all absorb small amounts of heavy metals from the soils they’re grown in. Usually these levels are not high enough to have negative impacts on human health but it’s a good idea to check with the supplement manufacturer and review their heavy metal testing reports.
Creatine to Increase Strength and Build Lean Muscle
Creatine is an amino acid found in your body’s muscles and in your brain. Though it can be made synthetically, most people get creatine through seafood and red meat. The body’s liver, pancreas and kidneys also make creatine.
Creatine is one of the best supplements for building lean body mass and increasing athletic performance.
Here’s proof …
| Research Study | Findings |
| Effect of creatine supplementation during resistance training on lean tissue mass and muscular strength in older adults: a meta-analysis | Creatine supplementation increases lean tissue mass and upper and lower body muscular strength during resistance training of older adults. . |
| Effect of creatine supplementation on body composition and performance: a meta-analysis | Creatine can help increase lean body mass. |
| Effects of creatine supplementation and resistance training on muscle strength and weightlifting performance | Of 22 studies reviewed, the average increase in muscle strength following creatine supplementation plus resistance training was 8% greater than the average increase in muscle strength following placebo ingestion during resistance training (20 vs. 12%). Similarly, the average increase in weightlifting performance (maximal repetitions at a given percent of maximal strength) following creatine supplementation plus resistance training was 14% greater than the average increase in weightlifting performance following placebo ingestion during resistance training (26 vs. 12%). |
| Effects of two and five days of creatine loading on muscular strength and anaerobic power in trained athletes | The study found that a 5-day creatine loading regime coupled with resistance training resulted in significant improvements in both average anaerobic power, as measured by the 30-second Wingate test and back squat strength compared with just training alone. |
| Effects of twenty-eight days of beta-alanine and creatine monohydrate supplementation on the physical working capacity at neuromuscular fatigue threshold | Beta alanine and creatine supplementation both may delay the onset of neuromuscular fatigue. |
| Effects of 4-Week Creatine Supplementation Combined with Complex Training on Muscle Damage and Sport Performance | creatine supplementation combined with complex training improved maximal muscular strength and reduced muscle damage during training. |
| Impact of creatine supplementation in combination with resistance training on lean mass in the elderly | Twelve weeks of low-dose creatine supplementation associated with resistance training resulted in increases in lean mass in the elderly. |
Creatine Side Effects
According to the Mayo Clinic, evidence suggests that using creatine generally won’t hurt if taken as directed.
When used orally at appropriate doses, creatine is likely safe to take for up to five years. As with any dietary supplement, it’s important to choose a product that follows recommended manufacturing practices and subscribes to third-party testing to ensure the product’s quality.
Creatine can cause weight gain, generally as lean body mass (more muscle).
Creatine might be unsafe for people with preexisting kidney issues. One case study suggested that creatine might worsen kidney dysfunction in people with kidney disorders, but creatine doesn’t appear to affect kidney function in healthy people.
Possible interactions of creatine include caffeine. Combining caffeine with creatine might decrease the efficacy of creatine. Use of creatine with a daily amount of caffeine greater than 300 milligrams might also worsen the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Further research is needed.
Glutamine to Speed Recovery and Increase Strength Gains
L Glutamine is the most abundant essential amino acid in our bodies and one of the “building blocks” of protein. It’s a “conditional” amino acid, which means that your body can make some on its own but uses it in large amounts.
Around 60 percent of your skeletal muscle is made up of glutamine, which is why it has been used by athletes and bodybuilders for years to help build and preserve lean body mass.
Let’s look at the available evidence on the effect l glutamine supplements have on muscle gains.
| Research Study | Findings |
| The Influence of Oral L-Glutamine Supplementation on Muscle Strength Recovery and Soreness Following Unilateral Knee Extension Eccentric Exercise | L-glutamine supplementation resulted in faster recovery of peak torque and diminished muscle soreness following eccentric exercise. The effect of L-glutamine on muscle force recovery may be greater in men than women. |
| L-Glutamine Supplementation Enhances Strength and Power of Knee Muscles and Improves Glycemia Control and Plasma Redox Balance in Exercising Elderly Women | Glutamine supplementation, mainly when associated with physical exercises, improves strength and power of knee muscles and glycemia control, besides boosting plasma antioxidant capacity of elderly women. |
| Glutamine as an Anti-Fatigue Amino Acid in Sports Nutrition | Studies evaluated observed that glutamine supplementation improved some fatigue markers, such as increased glycogen synthesis and reduced ammonia accumulation, but this intervention did not increase physical performance. |
| Effect of Glutamine Supplementation on Muscular Damage Biomarkers in Professional Basketball Players | Glutamine could help attenuate exercise-induced muscle damage in sport disciplines with predominantly eccentric actions. |
| L-glutamine Improves Skeletal Muscle Cell Differentiation and Prevents Myotube Atrophy After Cytokine (TNF-α) Stress Via Reduced p38 MAPK Signal Transduction | L-glutamine administration could represent an important therapeutic strategy for reducing muscle loss in catabolic diseases and inflamed aging. |
Glutamine Side Effects
L-glutamine is generally safe but may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- constipation
- nausea
- headache
- abdominal pain
- cough
- back, leg, feet, hands, or arm pain
Summary
So, based on a solid body of evidence, protein powder, creatine, and L glutamine are three of the best supplements for lean muscle gain.
Finding a protein powder that works for you can be a highly personal ordeal. Whether you choose an animal protein like whey or collagen or plant-based protein, we recommend sticking with a product with USA-sourced ingredients and no added sugar (especially the latter if gaining LEAN muscle is your goal).
And any supplement you choose should be produced in a GMP-certified, FDA-approved facility, and third party lab tested for impurities like mold, food borne pathogens, and heavy metals.
The most important thing when trying to build lean muscle, regardless of your gender or age, is to create consistent habits. Supplements are just one piece of the puzzle. Doing resistance training several days a week and improving your diet with more clean, high protein foods are imperative if you want to get lean and actually stay that way!
