Yeast overgrowth, particularly Candida, is a commonly overlooked factor in muscle health. While most discussions focus on its effects on digestion and brain fog, Dr. Michael Biamonte, a leading expert in candida and gut health, sheds light on how it can contribute to muscle weakness, fatigue, and even long-term muscle loss.
“The first thing Candida will do is cause malabsorption syndrome—it interferes with fat and protein absorption, leading to muscle wasting and nutrient deficiencies.” – Dr. Biamonte
How Candida Overgrowth Leads to Muscle Loss
- Blocks Nutrient Absorption – Candida competes with the body for essential nutrients like iron, CoQ10, magnesium, and B-complex vitamins, all of which are critical for muscle strength and recovery.
- Disrupts Protein Synthesis – It impairs the liver’s ability to synthesize muscle protein, making it difficult to build and retain lean mass.
- Causes Chronic Inflammation – Candida releases toxins that trigger inflammation, accelerating muscle breakdown and making recovery harder.
- Mimics Alcohol Effects – It produces high levels of endogenous alcohol, which inhibits protein synthesis—similar to the effects of excessive drinking on muscle health.
The Gut-Muscle Connection
Emerging research highlights the gut-muscle axis, showing how imbalanced gut flora affects metabolism, strength, and recovery. Candida overgrowth disrupts this balance, leading to muscle weakness, sluggish repair, and increased fatigue.
“We’ve had bodybuilders who couldn’t gain muscle, only to find Candida was blocking absorption and shutting down protein synthesis.” – Dr. Biamonte
How to Address Candida for Better Muscle Health
- Assess Nutrient Deficiencies – Patients with chronic fatigue, muscle loss, and gut issues should be evaluated for iron, vitamin D, and amino acid deficiencies.
- Improve Gut Health – A targeted Candida protocol that includes antifungal botanicals, probiotics, and gut-healing nutrients is essential.
- Support Muscle Recovery – Along with dietary changes, nutritional support like Fortetropin®, found in MYOS MD, can help protect muscle mass while patients work to restore gut health.
“You must address malabsorption first—otherwise, even the best muscle-building supplements won’t be fully effective.” – Dr. Biamonte
Watch the Full Discussion
Learn more about how Candida may be holding your patients back and how to integrate muscle-supportive strategies into their recovery plan. Catch the full Power Panel replay on YouTube @MYOSMD.