Pushtoday
MuscleChemistry Registered Member
Anabolic steroids are derivatives of testosterone which share two types of activity–muscle building (anabolic) and non-muscle male sex hormone related activity (androgenic):
The androgenic/virilising effects include:
Compounds with a high ratio of androgenic to a anabolic effects are the drug of choice in androgen-replacement therapy, whereas compounds with a reduced androgenic:anabolic ratio are preferred for anemia, osteoporosis, and to reverse protein loss following trauma, surgery or prolonged immobilization.
Determination of androgenic:anabolic ratio is typically performed in animal studies, which has led to the marketing of some compounds claimed to have anabolic activity with weak androgenic effects. This disassociation is less marked in humans, where all anabolic steroids have significant androgenic effects.
The standard scientific measurement of the androgenic/anabolic ratio of a given steroid is a comparison of the effects of the drug on the growth of prostate tissue vs. muscle tissue in rats.
As far as how this measurement applies to bodybuilding and strength training, the preferred compounds are those that have a high anabolic number with a lower androgenic number.
- Anabolic, meaning that they promote anabolism (cell growth)
- Androgenic (or virilising), meaning that they affect the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics
- increased protein synthesis from amino acids
- increased appetite
- increased bone remodeling and growth
- stimulation of bone marrow, which increases the production of red blood cells
The androgenic/virilising effects include:
- pubertal growth
- sebaceous gland oil production
- growth of the clitoris in females
- increased growth of androgen-sensitive hair (pubic, beard, chest, and limb hair)
- increased vocal cord size and deepening the voice
- increased libido
- suppression of natural sex hormones
- impaired production of sperm.
Compounds with a high ratio of androgenic to a anabolic effects are the drug of choice in androgen-replacement therapy, whereas compounds with a reduced androgenic:anabolic ratio are preferred for anemia, osteoporosis, and to reverse protein loss following trauma, surgery or prolonged immobilization.
Determination of androgenic:anabolic ratio is typically performed in animal studies, which has led to the marketing of some compounds claimed to have anabolic activity with weak androgenic effects. This disassociation is less marked in humans, where all anabolic steroids have significant androgenic effects.
The standard scientific measurement of the androgenic/anabolic ratio of a given steroid is a comparison of the effects of the drug on the growth of prostate tissue vs. muscle tissue in rats.
As far as how this measurement applies to bodybuilding and strength training, the preferred compounds are those that have a high anabolic number with a lower androgenic number.
