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Anabolic Supplements and Prohormones

Prohormone Supplements...

Prohormones are hormonal substances that when digested can be converted to active anabolic hormones via a natural enzymatic process. The anabolic compounds they convert to are what would be considered anabolic steroids if taken in an already converted form. The need for natural enzymes and conversion is what differentiates them from illegal anabolic steroids.

Prohormones work by increasing the levels of anabolic hormones in the body which stimulate androgen receptors to build strength and size. They signal more of digested nutrients to be used in muscle building processes and have less availability for fat storage.

The capabilities of pro-steroids are limited by the natural availability of the needed enzymatic reactions. The needed enzymes have a limited supply in the body. Therefore, there is a ceiling on the amount that can be taken and be effective (whereas anabolic steroids are dose dependent). This limits the muscle building capabilities as well as the potential harmful side effects of them as compared to anabolic steroids. But, essentially, the effects on the body, on a much lesser level, basically mirror that of anabolic steroids.

For the serious bodybuilder, stacking prohormones is an essential part of the training regimen, as they offer unparalleled muscle building and fat reducing capabilities. However, prohormones do come with side effects that one should be aware of before beginning supplementation.

Put simply, prohormones are hormone precursors, synthetically produced compounds that are converted to anabolic hormones via liver enzymes once they are introduced to the body. Stacking prohormones is a common practice for athletes looking to increase size, strength and endurance, as well as build lean muscle mass and cutting bodyfat.

Do Prohormones Work? This is a topic of much debate. Some bodybuilders swear by prohormones while others claim even the best prohormone stacks offer little to no benefit. There certainly is no conclusive scientific evidence pointing to their efficacy.

Stacking prohormones gives you the best chance of reaping the benefits, as you can enhance gains as well as reduce side effects. Prohormone cycles are between 2 and 8 weeks, with most athletes opting for 4 week cycles.

What are the best prohormones and prohormone stacks?
Each athlete responds to different prohormones in different ways, so there is no one best prohormone stack. Your best bet is to experiment and firgure out what works best for you.

Most bodybuilders agree that the best prohormones are either the trandermal ones or the sublingual (under the tongue) versions. The oral prohormones are broken down in the liver and stomach, so they would be severely weakened by the time they enter the bloodstream.


Common types of prohormones on the market

  • 4-androstenedione
    • Converts to: testosterone
    • Characteristics:
      • Research indicates a conversion rate of about 5.9%, which means that of the amount taken orally, 5.6% is converted to testosterone.
      • Relatively high rate of aromatization to estrogens, and consequently higher risk of side-effects such as gynecomastia brought on by excessive estrogen formation.
      • Exhibits significant androgenic properties, which may result in side effects such as male pattern baldness, acne, and enlarged prostate.
  • 4-androstenediol (4-AD)
    • Converts to: testosterone
    • Characteristics:
      • Conversion rate of about 15.76%, almost triple that of androstenedione, due to utilization of a different enzymatic pathway.
      • No direct conversion to estrogen, though some secondary aromatization does occur through metabolism.
      • Appears to be less androgenic than its cousin, since it does not metabolize into the potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
  • 19-norandrostenedione
    • Converts to: nortestosterone (also called nandrolone)
    • Characteristics:
      • Only slightly less anabolic than testosterone.
      • Low rate of aromatization to estrogens.
      • Low occurrence of androgenic side effects.
  • 19-norandrostenediol
    • Converts to: nortestosterone
    • Characteristics:
      • Same as -dione, except (as with the andros), the conversion rate is higher.
  • 1-androstenediol (1-AD)
    • Converts to: 1-testosterone, a 5-alpha reduced steroid reported to be 700% more anabolic and 200% more androgenic than testosterone; 1-testosterone is better (although rarely) described as dihydroboldenone, the 5-alpha reduced version of the veterinary steroid boldenone
    • Characteristics:
      • Very high conversion rate, because the liver serves primarily to "activate" the compound as it passes through rather than to break it down and excrete it, as is the case with other prohormones.
      • Cannot aromatize to estrogen either directly or through any of its metabolic products. However, 1-Testosterone, being a 5-alpha reduced steroid, is highly androgenic; it is very similar to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Many side effects associated with excessive levels of DHT, including male pattern baldness, testicular shrinkage, benign prostate hypertrophy and acne can occur with 1-AD usage. (Journal of Organic chem. vol, 27 1962 iss.1)
      • As with other -diols, 1-AD cannot convert directly to estrogen.
  • 1,4-androstadienedione (1,4 AD)
    • Converts to: boldenone
    • Characteristics:
      • High level of oral bioavailability.
      • Low rate of aromatization to estrogens (approximately half that of testosterone).
      • Low occurrence of androgenic side effects.

 

 
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