drtbear1967
Musclechemistry Board Certified Member
Testosterone as a Reference Point
A very small but extremely important note must be made for the reader to remember prior to discussing the various types of steroids and derivatives. It is extremely important to understand that Testosterone is utilized as the measuring stick (or the measuring bar) whereby all other anabolic steroids are measured against, referenced with, and compared to (much like the celsius scale of temperature measurement where the freezing point and boiling points of water are used as the baseline measurements for temperature). Upon understanding this, any individual can easily observe how a particular given anabolic steroid possesses an anabolic strength that might be several times stronger (or weaker) than Testosterone (Testosterone’s anabolic and androgenic ratings are both respectively 100). The importance of the anabolic and androgenic strength ratings of 100 respectively is paramount to understanding the different strengths of the various types of steroids.
Testosterone Analogues (Or Testosterone Derivatives)
As previously mentioned in the latter part of the introduction, all anabolic steroids in existence could ultimately be considered derivatives/analogues of Testosterone, but there are several direct derivatives of Testosterone that exist. Derivatives of Testosterone will of course possess and exhibit some or many of the same properties of Testosterone, and this can present both advantages and disadvantages which will be explained and covered in detail here. The very first officially created Testosterone analogue is Methandrostenolone (Dbol), followed by Boldenone (Equipoise). These two analogues will be utilized here as examples.
The general characteristics of Testosterone derivatives are very similar to that of Testosterone: they all exhibit the ability to aromatize into Estrogen (a characteristic shared with Testosterone itself), and they all exhibit the ability to interact with the 5-alpha reductase (5AR) enzyme to become reduced to a stronger androgen. Although they do not reduce into Dihydrotestosterone like Testosterone does, they still interact with the 5AR enzyme and reduce to their own respective individual stronger androgens (Dianabol will reduce into Dihydromethandrostenolone and Boldenone will reduce into Dihydroboldenone). However, the reduction of these analogues into their respective stronger androgenic metabolites differs from Testosterone in that they are reduced into very small trace amounts (usually the result of the structural modifications allowing these anabolic steroid analogues to possess a lesser affinity to bind to the 5AR enzyme).
In terms of the actual structural modifications, we will first examine Dianabol (Methandrostenolone). Dianabol is basically Testosterone that has been methylated at carbon 17-alpha on its structure (this is simply the addition of a methyl group at the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] carbon). This process, known as C17-Alpha Alkylation, allows the anabolic steroid to be administered orally and still have a measurably strong effect on the body. Without this modification, it is impossible for any anabolic steroid to survive liver metabolism in significant enough quantities to promote any measurable effects in the body – the result is that extremely miniscule amounts of the anabolic steroid reaches the bloodstream to perform its job. Dianabol also possesses a double-bond between carbons 1 and 2. All of these modifications are what grant Dianabol with its increases in anabolic strength and reduced androgenic strength in comparison to Testosterone.
Equipoise (Boldenone) is very easy to describe after understanding Dianabol. Equipoise is simply Dianabol without the methyl group attached to carbon 17-alpha. EQ possesses the double-bond between carbons 1 and 2. The fact that these two hormones operate very differently in the body is quite evident that is a very strong indication that the addition of a methyl group (C17-alpha alkylation) to the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] carbon does more than just affect the hormone’s resistance to breakdown in the liver – it actually changes the effects and properties of the anabolic steroid. Dianabol itself possesses moderate Estrogenic activity in the body, while Equipoise possesses low Estrogenic activity in the body. It is very evident that the structural modifications to Testosterone that result in both Dianabol and Equipoise grant one of them lower Estrogenic activity than Testosterone itself, but does not eliminate it. This is an example of what has been mentioned earlier about various properties and traits passed down from the parent/progenitor hormone to the analogue/derivative hormone, and that sometimes it will not always be expressed exactly the same. Case in point: Equipoise.
Testosterone analogues, because of their ability to still exhibit Estrogenic activity at some level, will commonly be preferred by users as anabolic steroids that are utilized in bulking or mass-gaining cycles due to the fact that the water retention associated with it is typically undesirable during periods of cutting or fat loss. This is because the water retention can cause the physique to take on a bloated and soft look. Therefore, the use of compounds such as Dianabol is generally limited as such. But this is not to say that Dianabol cannot be utilized for fat loss or cutting. Any anabolic steroid can be utilized for any purpose. There is no such thing as the commonly claimed myth of ‘cutting steroids’, ‘fat loss steroids’, ‘bulking steroids’, or ‘lean mass steroids’. There exist no such possible things except for anabolic steroids that may be preferred for cutting, bulking, or lean mass depending on their attributes and properties that are associated with side effects that may be undesirable for the goal of cutting or bulking. This will be further explained in greater detail in the final section of this article, but it is important to touch upon this topic and leave this idea in the reader’s mind for the time being.
Dihydrotestosterone Analogues (Or Dihydrotestosterone Derivatives)
Quite simply put, Dihydrotestosterone analogues are different types of steroids that are derived from Dihydrotestosterone. These are anabolic steroids that essentially utilize Dihydrotestosterone as the base template for the modifications to the core Dihydrotestosterone chemical structure. The fact is that the majority of anabolic steroids are Dihydrotestosterone derivatives, because research and history has shown that Dihydrotestosterone analogues exhibit very promising results in the different changes and modifications that result in the different Dihydrotestosterone variants. Dihydrotestosterone derivatives belong to the family of DHT-derivatives (such as Winstrol, Anavar, Primobolan, Masteron and several others).
However, Dihydrotestosterone is a very unique anabolic steroid in the sense that it holds absolutely no activity within muscle tissue, which is a very interesting detail in and of its self. All anabolic steroids that belong to DHT-derivative family contain modifications to their chemical structures that grant them significant activity and effectiveness within muscle tissue, where DHT itself unmodified would never survive metabolism there. This is because Dihydrotestosterone, once it enters muscle tissue, is instantly deactivated and metabolized into two ineffective hormones by an enzyme. This enzyme is the 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme, which is present in large quantities in muscle tissue, and is the enzyme that serves to metabolize any DHT that enters muscle tissue into two inactive metabolites: 3-Alpha Androstanediol and 3-Beta Androstanediol. These two hormones which are metabolites of DHT are not anabolic what so ever in muscle tissue. This is therefore the reason as to why DHT is not anabolic in muscle tissue at all, and many chemists and biologists believe that if this enzyme 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase did not exist in muscle tissue, that DHT would actually be a very potent and powerful anabolic steroid.
The nature of DHT being a non-anabolic steroid is simply due to outside factors and has nothing to do with the properties and nature of the hormone itself. Therefore, it would be an error to simply refer to DHT as only an androgenic steroid. It indeed holds the capability to be anabolic, but it is unfortunately stripped of that experience as soon as it enters muscle tissue by the enzyme 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The evidence that DHT is in fact a very anabolic hormone lies in the fact that its derivatives become anabolic due to the fact that their chemical modifications eliminate the affinity for the hormone to interact with the 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme.
Masteron (Drostanolone) will be used as a simple example and explanation here. Masteron is essentially DHT with a methyl group at the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] carbon (known as carbon alpha) atom has been added. This modification is what is known to be responsible for the slight anabolic strength increase in comparison to Testosterone. This methyl group addition increases the anabolic strength by way of granting Masteron an increased resistance to being metabolized into inactive metabolites by the enzyme 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.
The typical traits and characteristics of DHT derivatives/analogues are those of an elimination of any possible interaction with the aromatase enzyme, thereby allowing all DHT derivatives to exhibit absolutely no estrogenic activity what so ever. The only exception to this case is Anadrol (Oxymetholone), where it possesses a high degree of Estrogenic activity, but this is not due to interaction with the aromatase enzyme – it cannot interact with the aromatase enzyme. Anadrol instead exhibits mysterious properties whereby it and its metabolites act as Estrogens themselves in various tissues in the body. But Anadrol is a special exception, not the rule.
DHT derivatives possess more versatility and flexibility in the preferred uses among bodybuilders and athletes than other types of steroids. This is because these anabolic steroids will exhibit no Estrogenic activity in the body, thereby avoiding side effects such as bloating and water retention, gynecomastia, and other Estrogen-related side effects. DHT derivatives and analogues are therefore preferred among bodybuilders for fat loss and cutting phases of dieting, where a lean and ‘hard’ look to the physique is desired over the soft, puffy, and bloated look that aromatizable androgens will commonly provide.
A positive note here on DHT derivatives is that they do not interact with the 5-alpha reductase enzyme (remember, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of Testosterone to the much more androgenic Dihydrotestosterone). This is because DHT derivatives have already been reduced due to their nature already as DHT derivatives, and so therefore there is no risk involved in these types of steroids converting to any metabolite that exhibits stronger androgenic effects. Therefore, the androgenic strength associated with analogues of DHT should be the androgenic strength that one should experience fairly consistently throughout use.
A very small but extremely important note must be made for the reader to remember prior to discussing the various types of steroids and derivatives. It is extremely important to understand that Testosterone is utilized as the measuring stick (or the measuring bar) whereby all other anabolic steroids are measured against, referenced with, and compared to (much like the celsius scale of temperature measurement where the freezing point and boiling points of water are used as the baseline measurements for temperature). Upon understanding this, any individual can easily observe how a particular given anabolic steroid possesses an anabolic strength that might be several times stronger (or weaker) than Testosterone (Testosterone’s anabolic and androgenic ratings are both respectively 100). The importance of the anabolic and androgenic strength ratings of 100 respectively is paramount to understanding the different strengths of the various types of steroids.
Testosterone Analogues (Or Testosterone Derivatives)
As previously mentioned in the latter part of the introduction, all anabolic steroids in existence could ultimately be considered derivatives/analogues of Testosterone, but there are several direct derivatives of Testosterone that exist. Derivatives of Testosterone will of course possess and exhibit some or many of the same properties of Testosterone, and this can present both advantages and disadvantages which will be explained and covered in detail here. The very first officially created Testosterone analogue is Methandrostenolone (Dbol), followed by Boldenone (Equipoise). These two analogues will be utilized here as examples.
The general characteristics of Testosterone derivatives are very similar to that of Testosterone: they all exhibit the ability to aromatize into Estrogen (a characteristic shared with Testosterone itself), and they all exhibit the ability to interact with the 5-alpha reductase (5AR) enzyme to become reduced to a stronger androgen. Although they do not reduce into Dihydrotestosterone like Testosterone does, they still interact with the 5AR enzyme and reduce to their own respective individual stronger androgens (Dianabol will reduce into Dihydromethandrostenolone and Boldenone will reduce into Dihydroboldenone). However, the reduction of these analogues into their respective stronger androgenic metabolites differs from Testosterone in that they are reduced into very small trace amounts (usually the result of the structural modifications allowing these anabolic steroid analogues to possess a lesser affinity to bind to the 5AR enzyme).
In terms of the actual structural modifications, we will first examine Dianabol (Methandrostenolone). Dianabol is basically Testosterone that has been methylated at carbon 17-alpha on its structure (this is simply the addition of a methyl group at the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] carbon). This process, known as C17-Alpha Alkylation, allows the anabolic steroid to be administered orally and still have a measurably strong effect on the body. Without this modification, it is impossible for any anabolic steroid to survive liver metabolism in significant enough quantities to promote any measurable effects in the body – the result is that extremely miniscule amounts of the anabolic steroid reaches the bloodstream to perform its job. Dianabol also possesses a double-bond between carbons 1 and 2. All of these modifications are what grant Dianabol with its increases in anabolic strength and reduced androgenic strength in comparison to Testosterone.
Equipoise (Boldenone) is very easy to describe after understanding Dianabol. Equipoise is simply Dianabol without the methyl group attached to carbon 17-alpha. EQ possesses the double-bond between carbons 1 and 2. The fact that these two hormones operate very differently in the body is quite evident that is a very strong indication that the addition of a methyl group (C17-alpha alkylation) to the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] carbon does more than just affect the hormone’s resistance to breakdown in the liver – it actually changes the effects and properties of the anabolic steroid. Dianabol itself possesses moderate Estrogenic activity in the body, while Equipoise possesses low Estrogenic activity in the body. It is very evident that the structural modifications to Testosterone that result in both Dianabol and Equipoise grant one of them lower Estrogenic activity than Testosterone itself, but does not eliminate it. This is an example of what has been mentioned earlier about various properties and traits passed down from the parent/progenitor hormone to the analogue/derivative hormone, and that sometimes it will not always be expressed exactly the same. Case in point: Equipoise.
Testosterone analogues, because of their ability to still exhibit Estrogenic activity at some level, will commonly be preferred by users as anabolic steroids that are utilized in bulking or mass-gaining cycles due to the fact that the water retention associated with it is typically undesirable during periods of cutting or fat loss. This is because the water retention can cause the physique to take on a bloated and soft look. Therefore, the use of compounds such as Dianabol is generally limited as such. But this is not to say that Dianabol cannot be utilized for fat loss or cutting. Any anabolic steroid can be utilized for any purpose. There is no such thing as the commonly claimed myth of ‘cutting steroids’, ‘fat loss steroids’, ‘bulking steroids’, or ‘lean mass steroids’. There exist no such possible things except for anabolic steroids that may be preferred for cutting, bulking, or lean mass depending on their attributes and properties that are associated with side effects that may be undesirable for the goal of cutting or bulking. This will be further explained in greater detail in the final section of this article, but it is important to touch upon this topic and leave this idea in the reader’s mind for the time being.
Dihydrotestosterone Analogues (Or Dihydrotestosterone Derivatives)
Quite simply put, Dihydrotestosterone analogues are different types of steroids that are derived from Dihydrotestosterone. These are anabolic steroids that essentially utilize Dihydrotestosterone as the base template for the modifications to the core Dihydrotestosterone chemical structure. The fact is that the majority of anabolic steroids are Dihydrotestosterone derivatives, because research and history has shown that Dihydrotestosterone analogues exhibit very promising results in the different changes and modifications that result in the different Dihydrotestosterone variants. Dihydrotestosterone derivatives belong to the family of DHT-derivatives (such as Winstrol, Anavar, Primobolan, Masteron and several others).
However, Dihydrotestosterone is a very unique anabolic steroid in the sense that it holds absolutely no activity within muscle tissue, which is a very interesting detail in and of its self. All anabolic steroids that belong to DHT-derivative family contain modifications to their chemical structures that grant them significant activity and effectiveness within muscle tissue, where DHT itself unmodified would never survive metabolism there. This is because Dihydrotestosterone, once it enters muscle tissue, is instantly deactivated and metabolized into two ineffective hormones by an enzyme. This enzyme is the 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme, which is present in large quantities in muscle tissue, and is the enzyme that serves to metabolize any DHT that enters muscle tissue into two inactive metabolites: 3-Alpha Androstanediol and 3-Beta Androstanediol. These two hormones which are metabolites of DHT are not anabolic what so ever in muscle tissue. This is therefore the reason as to why DHT is not anabolic in muscle tissue at all, and many chemists and biologists believe that if this enzyme 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase did not exist in muscle tissue, that DHT would actually be a very potent and powerful anabolic steroid.
The nature of DHT being a non-anabolic steroid is simply due to outside factors and has nothing to do with the properties and nature of the hormone itself. Therefore, it would be an error to simply refer to DHT as only an androgenic steroid. It indeed holds the capability to be anabolic, but it is unfortunately stripped of that experience as soon as it enters muscle tissue by the enzyme 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The evidence that DHT is in fact a very anabolic hormone lies in the fact that its derivatives become anabolic due to the fact that their chemical modifications eliminate the affinity for the hormone to interact with the 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme.
Masteron (Drostanolone) will be used as a simple example and explanation here. Masteron is essentially DHT with a methyl group at the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] carbon (known as carbon alpha) atom has been added. This modification is what is known to be responsible for the slight anabolic strength increase in comparison to Testosterone. This methyl group addition increases the anabolic strength by way of granting Masteron an increased resistance to being metabolized into inactive metabolites by the enzyme 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.
The typical traits and characteristics of DHT derivatives/analogues are those of an elimination of any possible interaction with the aromatase enzyme, thereby allowing all DHT derivatives to exhibit absolutely no estrogenic activity what so ever. The only exception to this case is Anadrol (Oxymetholone), where it possesses a high degree of Estrogenic activity, but this is not due to interaction with the aromatase enzyme – it cannot interact with the aromatase enzyme. Anadrol instead exhibits mysterious properties whereby it and its metabolites act as Estrogens themselves in various tissues in the body. But Anadrol is a special exception, not the rule.
DHT derivatives possess more versatility and flexibility in the preferred uses among bodybuilders and athletes than other types of steroids. This is because these anabolic steroids will exhibit no Estrogenic activity in the body, thereby avoiding side effects such as bloating and water retention, gynecomastia, and other Estrogen-related side effects. DHT derivatives and analogues are therefore preferred among bodybuilders for fat loss and cutting phases of dieting, where a lean and ‘hard’ look to the physique is desired over the soft, puffy, and bloated look that aromatizable androgens will commonly provide.
A positive note here on DHT derivatives is that they do not interact with the 5-alpha reductase enzyme (remember, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of Testosterone to the much more androgenic Dihydrotestosterone). This is because DHT derivatives have already been reduced due to their nature already as DHT derivatives, and so therefore there is no risk involved in these types of steroids converting to any metabolite that exhibits stronger androgenic effects. Therefore, the androgenic strength associated with analogues of DHT should be the androgenic strength that one should experience fairly consistently throughout use.
