[h=3]Liver Damage from Designer Steroids[/h]If you are considering the use of 17-aa oral steroids, or are already using 17-aa oral steroids, here's some information you might want to know.
Improper use of oral steroids can cause liver damage adn result in serious health problems. No matter how big or ripped you may be, a faulty liver will drive your hard earned gains right down the toilet and send you strait to a[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]hospital bed[/FONT].
This article contains information on:
Not all oral steroids negatively affect the liver. For instance, DHEA, androstenediol and pregnenolone are steroids that can be taken orally, but none of them are liver toxic. What makes a steroid liver toxic is a modification to its structure known as a methylation in the 17th position. Such a steroid is typically referred to as "17 alpha alkylated" or "17-aa" oral steroid. This modification allows the steroid to pass the liver and avoid excretion, enabling higher potency than non-17-aa steroids. (1-7) 17-aa steroids also negatively affect the liver which I will explain later.
Popular methylated (17-aa) legal oral steroids and their toxicity rating:
Despite a lot of discussion about the "toxicity" of different oral steroids, most users are unaware of the mechanism or implications around these toxic effects. 17-aa steroids are toxic to the liver because they inhibit the excretory functions of the liver. (1-7) More specifically, the more liver toxic a 17-aa steroid is, the more it inhibits the production and flow of bile from the liver.
Bile salts are known as the liver's cleansing agents because they carry away toxins and flush them into the intestines for excretion. If the bile flow is restricted in the liver, then the liver can't rid itself of toxins. When the liver loses its ability to excrete toxins, it creates a buildup of toxins throughout theentire body. (1-13)
This condition is known as cholestasis [Kola-sta-sis]. By definition, cholestasis is a condition where the bile can't flow from the liver.(1) This is the most common liver condition developed from 17-aa steroids. (1-7)
If a liver becomes cholestatic for too long, the condition can begin damaging liver cells by causing necrosis (premature death of liver cells) from excessive toxin build up. This can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver (development of fibrous scar tissue) when the liver attempts to regenerate the damaged liver cells. This leads to loss of liver function from the replacement of healthy liver cells with fibrous connective tissue. (2)
Although cholestasis is reversible and generally not a lethal condition, it can lead to the more serious problems mentioned above if left untreated. To avoid serious health complications it's important to protect the liver before it becomes cholestatic or seriously damaged from prolonged cholestasis.
Improper use of oral steroids can cause liver damage adn result in serious health problems. No matter how big or ripped you may be, a faulty liver will drive your hard earned gains right down the toilet and send you strait to a[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]hospital bed[/FONT].
This article contains information on:
- How oral steroids impair liver function and damage the liver
- Warning signs that your liver may be damaged
- Which legal steroids pose the most risk and which are the safest
- How to get an at home liver test for less than $5
- How the right support supplements can reduce liver damage
Not all oral steroids negatively affect the liver. For instance, DHEA, androstenediol and pregnenolone are steroids that can be taken orally, but none of them are liver toxic. What makes a steroid liver toxic is a modification to its structure known as a methylation in the 17th position. Such a steroid is typically referred to as "17 alpha alkylated" or "17-aa" oral steroid. This modification allows the steroid to pass the liver and avoid excretion, enabling higher potency than non-17-aa steroids. (1-7) 17-aa steroids also negatively affect the liver which I will explain later.
Popular methylated (17-aa) legal oral steroids and their toxicity rating:
- Superdrol and clones: 17-aa steroid, Toxicity rating (1-5): 5
- Dimethazine and clones: 17-aa steroid, Toxicity rating (1-5): 5
- Halodrol and clones: 17-aa steroid, Toxicity rating (1-5): 2
- Epistane and clones (including Havoc): 17-aa steroid, Toxicity rating (1-5): 3
- Methyl 1,4-AD and clones: 17-aa steroid, Toxicity rating (1-5): 3
- DHEA and clones: Non 17-aa steroid, Toxicity rating (1-5): 0
- 1-DHEA and clones: Non 17-aa steroid, Toxicity rating (1-5): 0
- Androsterone (epiandrosterone) amd clones: Non 17-aa steroid, Toxicity rating (1-5): 0
Despite a lot of discussion about the "toxicity" of different oral steroids, most users are unaware of the mechanism or implications around these toxic effects. 17-aa steroids are toxic to the liver because they inhibit the excretory functions of the liver. (1-7) More specifically, the more liver toxic a 17-aa steroid is, the more it inhibits the production and flow of bile from the liver.
Bile salts are known as the liver's cleansing agents because they carry away toxins and flush them into the intestines for excretion. If the bile flow is restricted in the liver, then the liver can't rid itself of toxins. When the liver loses its ability to excrete toxins, it creates a buildup of toxins throughout theentire body. (1-13)
This condition is known as cholestasis [Kola-sta-sis]. By definition, cholestasis is a condition where the bile can't flow from the liver.(1) This is the most common liver condition developed from 17-aa steroids. (1-7)
If a liver becomes cholestatic for too long, the condition can begin damaging liver cells by causing necrosis (premature death of liver cells) from excessive toxin build up. This can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver (development of fibrous scar tissue) when the liver attempts to regenerate the damaged liver cells. This leads to loss of liver function from the replacement of healthy liver cells with fibrous connective tissue. (2)
Although cholestasis is reversible and generally not a lethal condition, it can lead to the more serious problems mentioned above if left untreated. To avoid serious health complications it's important to protect the liver before it becomes cholestatic or seriously damaged from prolonged cholestasis.
