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Off-Cycle Therapy (OCT)
By William Llewellyn
If it is one thing that I know, it’s that bodybuilders pay a great deal of attention to their cycles. Many guys are almost self-taught steroid scientists as they put so much emphasis on studying the right steroids, the most efficacious dosages, and most appropriate collection of ancillary medications. Next to this, a great deal of attention is also paid to Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT), that crucial period at the end of the cycle when testosterone-support medications are used. Once again, these programs are often studied in micro detail. This, however, tends to be where it ends. In this, I find one thing greatly lacking. Little attention is paid to the time off all drugs. I believe this third and final stage of the steroid administration cycle is also highly critical. Thus, in this week’s Chemical Corner, I am proposing the use of an “Off-Cycle Therapy” program.
Introduction to OCT
The purpose of Off-Cycle Therapy is simple: to maximize the long-term benefits from anabolic-androgenic steroid therapy. No drug products are used during our OCT program; only natural substances. We can view this phase as one part maintenance, and one part recovery. Our ideal OCT program is broken down into three distinct segments. This first focuses on testosterone support. The next, re-sensitizing the muscle cells to training stimulation. And the third, use of natural anabolic substances that help retain muscle. When all three aspects are in check, your muscles should be bigger and much more primed for the next cycle. This should potentially equate to a need for lower total doses, fewer cycles, and shorter durations of use – lofty goals for any harm-reduction strategy.
Part I: Testosterone Support
The testosterone support aspect of our Off-Cycle Therapy program is substantially different than what is used during traditional PCT. We are no longer looking to aid endogenous testosterone production with anti-estrogenic drugs like tamoxifen or clomiphene, nor to use pharmaceuticals that mimic an endogenous luteinizing hormone such as hCG. All pharmaceutical strategies have been concluded at this point, and hopefully have elicited the necessary effects. For OCT, we want to provide our bodies some of the natural components used in the synthesis of testosterone. We want to augment our own natural processes, not artificially shift them.
Vitamin D/Calcium/Zinc
The first thing to pay special attention to during OCT is our vitamin and mineral status, particularly those components that are integral to testosterone biosynthesis. To begin with, clinical studies have shown that higher levels of vitamin D in the blood are associated with increased testosterone output.1 Calcium is another nutritive component involved in hormone function, especially the level of bioavailable (free) testosterone.3 Lastly, zinc is also tied to androgen biosynthesis.2 Any deficiency in these vitamins/minerals will likely translate into suppressed (sub-optimal) testosterone output. Examine your diet closely, and supplement these three as needed.
D-Aspartic Acid
DAA is an amino acid that is naturally found in the endocrine system, and is believed to play roles in hormone biosynthesis. Clinical studies demonstrated a 42% increase in serum testosterone levels when this amino acid was given to a group of healthy men.4 The same dose of 3.2 grams/day is recommended (DAA sodium salt).
Part II: Cell Re-Sensitization
Repeated high-intensity exercise, especially resistance training, causes disruption of the muscle cell membranes. This disruption is in many ways desirable, as it is needed to initiate muscle growth and repair. Without damage, we will not have progress. There are some negatives to regular disruption of the muscle cells, however. One of the most fundamental is that the outer membranes of the muscle cells (which consist mainly of fatty acid compounds called phospholipids) are rearranged. In particular, the concentration of arachidonic acid (ARA) is lowered5, which may have implications for future progress.
Arachidonic Acid
Arachidonic acid supports the local anabolic process.6 Its depletion is highly undesirable and may contribute to training stagnation. Thus, ARA is supplemented during the OCT period at a daily dose of 250 mgs, in an effort to re-sensitize the muscles. This represents 50 to 100 percent of the normal daily dietary intake of ARA, which should be sufficient for phospholipid replenishment and acceptable for long-term use.
Fish Oil
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), two omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil, are also important constituents of muscle cell membrane phospholipids. Additionally, studies suggest that omega-3 essential fatty acids may enhance the membrane storage of arachidonic acid.7 A daily dose of 2 grams of fish oil is recommended during our Off-Cycle Therapy program.
Part III: Anabolic Supplementation
An optimal Off-Cycle Therapy program should also include natural products with anabolic/anti-catabolic properties. Many AAS users are sceptical of muscle-building supplements, and rightfully so. The market can be very unreliable, with even the best products falling far short of AAS in terms of efficacy and reliability. Still, the field has progressed a great deal over the years, and there are many products of tangible value. And even a partial muscle-sparing effect during the OCT period is highly desirable, as it can significantly alter the baseline muscle level by the start of the next steroid cycle. Supplementation is limited to only those ingredients with proven anabolic effects in humans.
Creatine Monohydrate
Creatine augments muscle size and performance through several distinct mechanisms. The two most prominent are cell volumization (water retention) and cell energy enhancement (cellular ATP resynthesis), although the supplement also has direct protein synthetic and anti-catabolic properties.8 Creatine (as creatine monohydrate) is taken at a dose of 5 grams per day.
Beta-Alanine
Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid that serves as a direct precursor for carnosine synthesis, an intramyocellular buffering agent that counters the buildup of hydrogen ions. By serving as the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of muscle carnosine, beta-alanine is a strong stabilizer of muscle pH.9 A dose of 3-6 grams per day is used, which should allow the individual to perform measurably longer during training.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids
The three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, isoleucine and valine are abundant in skeletal muscle protein. BCAA supplements provide integral building blocks for the synthesis of new muscle protein. BCAAs also appear to directly stimulate muscle cells to synthesize and retain protein10, thus they are appear to have direct anabolic effects. A dosage of 10 grams per day (post-training) is recommended during OCT.
Sample OCT Program (8-12 Weeks)
Testosterone Support:
Vitamin D, 3000 IU/day
Calcium, 500-1,000 mgs/day
Zinc Sulphate, 250 mgs/day
D-Aspartic Acid, 3.2 grams/day
Muscle Cell Re-Sensitization:
Arachidonic Acid, 250 mgs/day
Fish Oil, 2 grams/day
Anabolic Supplementation:
Creatine, 5 grams/day
Beta-Alanine, 3-6 grams/day
BCAAs, 10 grams/day
William Llewellyn is widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost authorities on the use of performance-enhancing substances. He is the author of the bestselling anabolic steroid reference guide ANABOLICS and CEO of Molecular Nutrition. William is an accomplished researcher/developer in the field of anabolic substances, and is also a longtime advocate for harm reduction and legislative change. He built the website anabolic.org, an extensive online database of information on anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.
References:
1. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf), 2009 Dec 29.
2. Biol Trace Elem Res, 2009 Summer;129(1-3):65-9. Epub, 2008 Dec 20.
3. Ren Fail, 2010 May;32(4):417-9.
4. Reprod Biol Endocrinol, 2009 Oct 27;7:120.
5. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 279:E744-751, 2000.
6. Am J Physiol Cell Physiology, 2006 Jun; 290(6): C1651-9. Epub, 2006 Feb 8.
7. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids, 2002 Jan;66(1):83-90.
8. Creatine in Sports, Kreider RB. Humana Press. Totowa, NJ. 2007.
9. Amino Acids, 2007 Feb;32(2):225-33
10. J Nutr, 2006 Feb;136(2):529S-532S.
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