Don't even think about it -- taking pain killers and anti-inflammatory over-the-counter drugs just to increase muscle that is.

According to press reports, researchers at the Human Performance Lab at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, apparently found that older people taking either ibuprofen or acetaminophen had a large increase in muscle size of 40 to 60 percent -- or at least that's how various sources are reporting it -- as well as strength gains, compared to a control group who did not take the painkillers.

Frankly, I don't believe it. I'm waiting to review the paper when it's published and to see what happens in any follow-up studies. Previous work suggests that painkillers such as these actually suppress protein synthesis and muscle hypertrophy.

And for anyone stupidly thinking of trying this as an anabolic supplement, beware that acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a potent liver toxicant at higher than recommended doses, and the damage can be permanent. News sources that reported this study were quite negligent in not emphasizing this point.