not any more helpful---what does this mean

[nootnoot1]

Someone told me that 'he is sorry that he cannot be any more helpful.'

I just wonder where the emphasis lies.

Was he stressing that he could not help me so that i would not ask or

expect his help any longer, or was he expressing his regret that

circumstances actually prevented him from giving more help?

[Historiogaffe]

Is this related to graduate English programs? It's a bit presumptuous to approach a bunch of English specialists and expect them to help with your grammar.

That said, we often can't resist, so: the sentence would mean the same thing without the word "any."