Iron Game
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[h=1]Bodybuilding Drugs - 8 Breaking Research Facts[/h]
1) Nandrolone Detectable After Nine Months
The anabolic steroid nandrolone decanoate (Deca-Durabolin) can be detected for at least nine months in some people– according to a study from Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Subjects received a single 150-milligram dose of nandrolone decanoate, and urine was monitored for nandrolone and two of its metabolites (19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone) for nine months. Nandrolone is a notorious drug among athletes because it is linked to drug suspensions of Olympic medal winners such as Linford Christie, Merlene Ottey, Marion Jones and Dieter Baumann. Large individual differences existed in clearance rates, with some athletes testing clean in 30 days and others detectable after nine months. Factors such as dosage, length of use, body fat and genetic-linked clearance rates will determine how long the drug is detectable. Beware of steroid clearance rate tables you find on the Internet because none of them are based on actual data. (Steroids, published online February 4, 2016)
2) Aromatase Inhibitors Promote Insulin Resistance
Many bodybuilders take aromatase inhibitors such as Arimidex to prevent the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. Excessive estrogen triggers gynecomastia, which is the development of breast tissue in men. However, recent studies show that suppression of estrogen promotes body fat deposition. Frasier Gibb from the British Heart Foundation Center for Cardiovascular Science at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland found that the use of aromatase inhibitors was linked to insulin resistance in humans. Researchers measured blood sugar disposal rates and fat formation following administration of an aromatase inhibitor. The study showed that in men, estrogen is an important regulator of blood sugar— just as previous studies show that estrogen helps control fat mass. (Journal Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism, published online March 11, 2016)
3) Non-Athletes Biggest Users of Performance-Enhancing Drugs
The Internet has made anabolic steroids, growth hormone, melanotan, weight-loss drugs, Botox and dermal fillers available to anyone with little risk of sanctions from law enforcement. A review of literature by Rebekah Brennan and colleagues from Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland examined studies on steroid use patterns of people obtaining drugs on the Internet. Steroid doses ranged from 250 to 3,200 milligrams per week, while cycles averaged four to 12 weeks. Fifty-nine percent reported using more than 1,000 milligrams of testosterone a week. Most side effects were mild and included acne, gynecomastia (breast growth) and stretch marks. Steroid users typically used three or more other drugs or supplements. Use of performance-enhancing drugs was linked to cocaine use, training years and training frequency. Heavy steroid users were less educated and less likely to drink alcohol heavily. Most steroid users began after age 21 and did not play organized sports. Longtime power athletes who used steroids were more likely to have high blood pressure. This review shows that steroid use patterns are far different than that portrayed by the media. (Health and Social Care in the Community, published online January 26, 2016)
4) Men Lead Women Down the Dark Path of Steroid Use
The average male steroid user is 30 years old, physically active, employed and never participated in organized sports. A new phenomenon is women in their late 20s who use anabolic steroids to improve body composition and sex drive. A study led by Annica Borjesson from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden interviewed eight non-athletic women who used anabolic steroids. Most women used two or more steroids concurrently for an average of 58 weeks. Five of the women reported side effects such as voice changes, clitoral enlargement and body hair growth. Seven of the eight had boyfriends who encouraged them to use the drugs in the first place. (Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 11: 11, 2016)
5) Can Growth Hormone Speed Recovery From ACL Injuries?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) prevents the tibia (shinbone) from moving too far forward on the femur (thigh bone). Serious injury to the ACL usually leads to surgery, which requires a recovery rate of about a year. Many people with ACL injuries have arthritic changes in the knee as a result. More than 200,000 people suffer ACL injuries every year, which makes it a significant public health problem. Mark Cuban, the owner of the NBA Dallas Mavericks, is funding research on the effects of human growth hormone (HGH) on recovery from ACL surgery. HGH is on the banned substances list, but that could change if the drug promoted healing. If effective, growth hormone could make a long, arduous rehabilitation process a little more bearable. (IBTimes.com, January6, 2016)
6) Growth Hormone Speeds Rehabilitation in Burn Victims
Patients lose bodyweight and muscle mass rapidly after serious burns. Following extensive burns, people become weak and frail, which prolongs the rate of rehabilitation. Growth hormone supplements speed rehabilitation and quality of life following serious burns— according to a study led by June-Bum Kim from Hallym University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea. Researchers studied 33 patients with third-degree burns covering at least 20 percent of their body. Patients received two-milligram injections of sustained-release human growth hormone weekly for three months during rehabilitation. A placebo group received weekly injections of fake growth hormone. Growth hormone-supplemented patients showed improved maximal oxygen consumption, lean body mass, muscle strength and IGF-1. Growth hormone promoted physical fitness and improved quality of life. (Growth Hormone IGF Research, 27: 1-6, 2016)
7) Testosterone Alters Performance in the Ultimate Game
Testosterone is a hormone produced by the male testes, and to a lesser extent in the female ovaries. It is important in the development of the male sex organs, prostate and secondary sexual characteristics (facial, pubic and armpit hair, deepening of the voice), sex drive, cognitive and physical development and competitiveness. It also plays a role in complex human behaviors such as negotiations and motivation. German researchers found that testosterone altered performance in a behavior game called “The Ultimate Game” in which players respond to reasonable, unreasonable and neutral proposals involving money. Rational players will respond to reasonable offers that bring rewards. Male and female players accepted unreasonable offers more often after the application of testosterone gel on their skin. Brain scans showed that testosterone activated the amygdala in the brain, which is involved in emotional reactions. The results suggest that testosterone is involved in emotional responses in human interactions. (Frontiers in Neuroscience, published online March 1, 2016)
8) Watch Out for Dianabol Babies
Dianabol babies come from unplanned pregnancies fathered by steroid-using men who thought they were incapable of fathering children while they were on the juice. Testosterone supplements suppress natural testosterone and sperm production. Anabolic steroids reduce fertility, and are particularly problematic in young men who experience testicular atrophy with long-term steroid use. In most cases, normal sperm production returns naturally when they stop taking the drugs, but this takes time. Steroid users can jump-start fertility with injectable gonadotropins, selective estrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors. Or, they can wait and let the system come back by itself. (Asian Journal of Andrology, 18: 1-8, 2016)
1) Nandrolone Detectable After Nine Months
The anabolic steroid nandrolone decanoate (Deca-Durabolin) can be detected for at least nine months in some people– according to a study from Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Subjects received a single 150-milligram dose of nandrolone decanoate, and urine was monitored for nandrolone and two of its metabolites (19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone) for nine months. Nandrolone is a notorious drug among athletes because it is linked to drug suspensions of Olympic medal winners such as Linford Christie, Merlene Ottey, Marion Jones and Dieter Baumann. Large individual differences existed in clearance rates, with some athletes testing clean in 30 days and others detectable after nine months. Factors such as dosage, length of use, body fat and genetic-linked clearance rates will determine how long the drug is detectable. Beware of steroid clearance rate tables you find on the Internet because none of them are based on actual data. (Steroids, published online February 4, 2016)
2) Aromatase Inhibitors Promote Insulin Resistance
Many bodybuilders take aromatase inhibitors such as Arimidex to prevent the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. Excessive estrogen triggers gynecomastia, which is the development of breast tissue in men. However, recent studies show that suppression of estrogen promotes body fat deposition. Frasier Gibb from the British Heart Foundation Center for Cardiovascular Science at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland found that the use of aromatase inhibitors was linked to insulin resistance in humans. Researchers measured blood sugar disposal rates and fat formation following administration of an aromatase inhibitor. The study showed that in men, estrogen is an important regulator of blood sugar— just as previous studies show that estrogen helps control fat mass. (Journal Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism, published online March 11, 2016)
3) Non-Athletes Biggest Users of Performance-Enhancing Drugs
The Internet has made anabolic steroids, growth hormone, melanotan, weight-loss drugs, Botox and dermal fillers available to anyone with little risk of sanctions from law enforcement. A review of literature by Rebekah Brennan and colleagues from Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland examined studies on steroid use patterns of people obtaining drugs on the Internet. Steroid doses ranged from 250 to 3,200 milligrams per week, while cycles averaged four to 12 weeks. Fifty-nine percent reported using more than 1,000 milligrams of testosterone a week. Most side effects were mild and included acne, gynecomastia (breast growth) and stretch marks. Steroid users typically used three or more other drugs or supplements. Use of performance-enhancing drugs was linked to cocaine use, training years and training frequency. Heavy steroid users were less educated and less likely to drink alcohol heavily. Most steroid users began after age 21 and did not play organized sports. Longtime power athletes who used steroids were more likely to have high blood pressure. This review shows that steroid use patterns are far different than that portrayed by the media. (Health and Social Care in the Community, published online January 26, 2016)
4) Men Lead Women Down the Dark Path of Steroid Use
The average male steroid user is 30 years old, physically active, employed and never participated in organized sports. A new phenomenon is women in their late 20s who use anabolic steroids to improve body composition and sex drive. A study led by Annica Borjesson from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden interviewed eight non-athletic women who used anabolic steroids. Most women used two or more steroids concurrently for an average of 58 weeks. Five of the women reported side effects such as voice changes, clitoral enlargement and body hair growth. Seven of the eight had boyfriends who encouraged them to use the drugs in the first place. (Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 11: 11, 2016)
5) Can Growth Hormone Speed Recovery From ACL Injuries?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) prevents the tibia (shinbone) from moving too far forward on the femur (thigh bone). Serious injury to the ACL usually leads to surgery, which requires a recovery rate of about a year. Many people with ACL injuries have arthritic changes in the knee as a result. More than 200,000 people suffer ACL injuries every year, which makes it a significant public health problem. Mark Cuban, the owner of the NBA Dallas Mavericks, is funding research on the effects of human growth hormone (HGH) on recovery from ACL surgery. HGH is on the banned substances list, but that could change if the drug promoted healing. If effective, growth hormone could make a long, arduous rehabilitation process a little more bearable. (IBTimes.com, January6, 2016)
6) Growth Hormone Speeds Rehabilitation in Burn Victims
Patients lose bodyweight and muscle mass rapidly after serious burns. Following extensive burns, people become weak and frail, which prolongs the rate of rehabilitation. Growth hormone supplements speed rehabilitation and quality of life following serious burns— according to a study led by June-Bum Kim from Hallym University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea. Researchers studied 33 patients with third-degree burns covering at least 20 percent of their body. Patients received two-milligram injections of sustained-release human growth hormone weekly for three months during rehabilitation. A placebo group received weekly injections of fake growth hormone. Growth hormone-supplemented patients showed improved maximal oxygen consumption, lean body mass, muscle strength and IGF-1. Growth hormone promoted physical fitness and improved quality of life. (Growth Hormone IGF Research, 27: 1-6, 2016)
7) Testosterone Alters Performance in the Ultimate Game
Testosterone is a hormone produced by the male testes, and to a lesser extent in the female ovaries. It is important in the development of the male sex organs, prostate and secondary sexual characteristics (facial, pubic and armpit hair, deepening of the voice), sex drive, cognitive and physical development and competitiveness. It also plays a role in complex human behaviors such as negotiations and motivation. German researchers found that testosterone altered performance in a behavior game called “The Ultimate Game” in which players respond to reasonable, unreasonable and neutral proposals involving money. Rational players will respond to reasonable offers that bring rewards. Male and female players accepted unreasonable offers more often after the application of testosterone gel on their skin. Brain scans showed that testosterone activated the amygdala in the brain, which is involved in emotional reactions. The results suggest that testosterone is involved in emotional responses in human interactions. (Frontiers in Neuroscience, published online March 1, 2016)
8) Watch Out for Dianabol Babies
Dianabol babies come from unplanned pregnancies fathered by steroid-using men who thought they were incapable of fathering children while they were on the juice. Testosterone supplements suppress natural testosterone and sperm production. Anabolic steroids reduce fertility, and are particularly problematic in young men who experience testicular atrophy with long-term steroid use. In most cases, normal sperm production returns naturally when they stop taking the drugs, but this takes time. Steroid users can jump-start fertility with injectable gonadotropins, selective estrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors. Or, they can wait and let the system come back by itself. (Asian Journal of Andrology, 18: 1-8, 2016)
