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What are prohormones?
Prohormones are precursors to either testosterone or nortestosterone.
They are essentially one molecule shy from being converted
into those compounds. Certain enzymes in our system supply
the missing molecule. Norandrostenedione and Norandrostenediol
convert to nortestosterone. Androstenedione and Androstenediol
convert to testosterone. The conversions rates to testosterone
or nortestosterone are either better or worse, dependant on
which type are being consumed.
Prohormones
DHEA (Dehydro-epiandrosterone)
Androstenedione (4-androsten-3, 17-dione)
19-Norandrostenedione (19-Nor-4-androsten-3,17-dione)
5-Diol or 5AD (5-androsten-3,17-diol)
4-diol or 4AD (4-androsten-3,17-diol)
Nor-diol (19-Nor-4-androsten-3,17-diol)
Nor-5-diol (19-Nor-5-androsten-3,17-diol)
1AD (1-androstene-3beta, 17beta-diol)
5-AA (5-alpha-androstanediol)
1,4-andro (1,4-androstadienedione)
DHEA (Dehydro-epiandrosterone)
DHEA is a natural, intermediate steroid hormone produced
in our body by the adrenal glands. DHEA is called "mother
of hormones", or prohormone because DHEA is further
converted to generate 50 other essential hormones. For
example, DHEA is converted to androgens (male hormones)
or estrogens (female hormones) in the cells. DHEA is the
most abundant hormone in our blood, and adequate blood
DHEA level is critical for many vital hormonal and metabolic
functions of our body. Our bodies produce less and less
DHEA as we age, and as a result, our blood DHEA level
decreases as we get older, generally falling significantly
by the age of 30, and by as much as 50% by as 40.
Improved DHEA levels have been correlated with improved
sense of well being, reduce body fat and improve skin
tone and moisture, increase sex drive, improve immunity,
enhance memory, and increase bone density. Numerous studies
have proven great correlations between DHEA deficiency
or insufficiency and a variety of |
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| diseases and symptoms. For example, decreased
levels of DHEA predispose human and animals to higher
probability of breast cancer, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis,
and Alzheimer's diseases, etc. |
DHEA dietary supplements have been in use for a variety
of reasons: Improve strength, enhance athletic performance,
facilitate weight loss, anti-aging, improve sexual function/erectile
dysfunction, treat cognitive decline, treat osteoporosis,
improve immunomodulation for rheumatologic conditions, and
treat depression.
DHEA supplements, at 50 - 100 mg per day, have been shown
to increase muscle mass and improve overall feelings of well-being
among a group of 40-70 year old subjects who took the supplements
for 6 months. Another small study showed a link between 5
months of DHEA supplementation (50mg/day) and improvements
in markers of immune system function (lymphocytes, natural
killer cells and immunoglobulins). Several studies have shown
an increased serum testosterone levels following regular DHEA supplementation (50-100mg/day).
Androstenedione (4-androsten-3,
17-dione)
Increased testosterone levels have been widely known to
greatly increase the production of muscle mass in conjunction
with a strength-training program. Androstenedione is the
direct precursor to testosterone. So in theory if you
increase the level of the building block of testosterone
then you will eventually increase the level of testosterone.
While this is true in a relative sense, androstenedione
by itself is still not absolutely destined to become testosterone.
In fact, androstenedione is also the direct precursor
to estrone (an estrogen hormone). Thus, depending upon
the physiologic milieu, androstenedione can quite easily
become either hormone. As a matter of fact, in some settings,
the conversion of androstenedione to estrogen can be more
energetically favorable than the conversion to testosterone.
In other words, there is no guarantee that the androstenedione
you take is going to become testosterone and not estrogen.
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19-Norandrostenedione (19-Nor-4-androsten-3,17-dione)
19-Norandrostenedione is a testosterone molecule that
is missing the hydrogen atom in the 17th position. 19-Norandrostenedione
is also missing a carbon atom in the 19th position. When
the liver processes the Norandrostenedione molecule a
hydrogen atom is added in the 17th position. The liver
is unable to add the carbon atom in the 19th position.
The result is a testosterone molecule missing the carbon
atom. This is commonly referred to as Nor-Testosterone
or Nandrolone. |
Nandrolone is the base ingredient in Deca-Durabolin.
"Deca" was one of the most popular steroids in the
hay day of steroids in the 80's. The Reason Deca enjoyed such
popularity was its fantastic muscle building properties and
general lack of side effects.
Nandrolone is an anabolic product that does not demonstrate
the androgenic side effects (acne, increased body-hair growth,
acceleration of male pattern baldness, etc.) of most steroids.
One of the many advantages of Nandrolone is only using relatively
small doses. Once the Nandrolone molecule reaches the receptor
sight it remains active for as many as 4 days (testosterone
only stays active for about 45-60 minutes). Nandrolone molecule
lingers on the receptor sight, and a build up of active ingredients
will occur. All of these characteristics add up to a very
active anabolic hormone and creates an ideal hormonal environment
to support incredible muscle growth.
Proven results show that bodybuilders and athletes who have
been using are reporting an increase in lean muscle mass of
8 pounds in 21 days, combined with significant gains in strength
and increased muscle hardness.
In addition, 19-Norandrostenedione provides protection against
muscle catabolism allowing for quicker recovery and less post-workout
muscle soreness.
19-Norandrostenedione users are also benefiting from its lipotrophic
ability to substantially reduce body fat, particularly in
the abdominal region.
1AD (1-androstene-3beta, 17beta-diol)
1-AD converts to a relatively unheard of hormone called
1-testosterone. 1-testosterone is what is known as a "double
bond isomer" of testosterone. Although chemically
the only difference between testosterone and 1-testosterone
is the position of the double bond, pharmacologically
the two products are quite different. According to research
done by the pharmaceutical giant G.D. Searle and published
in the 1960s, 1-testosterone is over 7 times as myotrophic
(anabolic) as testosterone. That makes 1-testosterone
a phenomenally potent compound, surpassing even most synthetic
anabolic steroids.
No Aromatization - 1-testosterone differs
from testosterone in another way as well. Being a 5alpha-reduced
androgen (a DHT derivative) it simply cannot aromatize
to estrogens. The same goes for 1-AD itself - no estrogen
transformation can occur. This makes 1-AD unique compared
to other prohormones - all of which can either aromatize
directly, convert to a product that aromatizes, or |
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| both. So what does this mean in the real
world? It means that your chances of getting gynecomastia
(bitch tits) from 1-AD is essentially zero, and that water
retention side effects are vastly reduced compared to
other prohormones. |
Nor-diol (19-Nor-4-androsten-3,17-diol)
Nor-diol is androstenedione (the direct precursor to testosterone)
with the carbon molecule removed from the 18th position. This
alteration allows 19-Nor-4-androsten-3-17-diol to convert
to nandrolone when it leaves the liver. Nandrolone is the
generic name for the anabolic steroid, Deca Durabolin. Nandrolone
(or "Deca") is a very powerful anabolic agent. It
increases protein synthesis, allows nutrients to pass more
freely through cell membranes, keeps you in a positive nitrogen
balance, increases your metabolism and facilitates higher
levels of mental focus and concentration.
• Nor-diol converts to the powerful anabolic agent nandrolone
(or "Deca") when it leaves the liver.
• Dramatically increases the rate at which your body
builds muscle and burns fat.
• A legal and natural alternative to anabolic steroids.
There are four different methods for taking prohormones:
Oral - Prohormones are available in a "powder"
form. They come in either various sized with possibly varying
types prohormones in capsules, or in bulk powder form. These
two forms are the most common methods for taking prohormones.
Oral prohormones have also been taken sublingually, which
is absorbed in the system from underneath the tongue. This
may be a very good way to avoid the breakdown of compounds
in the digestive tract. It would seem to be a waste of money
purchasing capsules if you plan on taking prohormones sublingually.
The best time to take oral forms of prohormones is .5 to 1
hour before working out.
Nasal - The East Germans used Androstenedione
in a saline solution that was inhaled prior to an event. The
claimed advantage is that the compound is directly absorbed
into the bloodstream and not broken down in the digestive
tract. Prohormones are very harsh and we do not recommend
inhaling these products.
Patch - The"patch" appears to quite
a novelty. Before you spend your hard earned money on this
new approach to getting prohormones into your system research
the effectiveness first.
Injectable - This may be ultimate method
for taking prohormones. While a sterile solution is currently
not available to inject, if it is made available in a non-prescription
form, it will probably end the sale of all prohormones as
"dietary" supplements.
When do I take them?
Well, this is a good question. Prohormones tend to have a
short half-life, often under two hours, which means for continual
levels you'd have to take it 3-4 times a day which isn't always
as convenient. If you are using a single dose prohormone taking
it 30-45 minutes before training is best, it will give you
a boost and will still be active to aid in post-workout recovery.
If you were to use them pre-contest, keep in mind they reach
peak levels after about 90 minutes, so you should be taking
them an hour and a half prior to working out.
Should I continue taking prohormones on off-days?
Yes, most definitely. Stopping and recommencing for such short
times will cause multiple testosterone crashes that will confuse
and wreck havoc on the natural system. Every time it thinks
it's in the clear, you restart and it gets hit again bad.
Even if this doesn't cause long term malicious effects, count
on it jeopardizing your natural testosterone recovery after
coming off a stack, prolonging your dry period by one or two
weeks, time during which you could lose even more gains you
made, negating the effect of your cycle.
Moreover a lot of growth happens on off-days, which is why
nutrition is so important. Prohormones aid in protein synthesis
and muscle recovery, so if you recover on off-days it makes
sense to have high test levels to assist in that recovery.
How long of a time period should I take prohormones?
This is another question with a "solid answer."
We have seem many, many different protocols for how long of
a time period to take prohormones. Short bursts, three weeks
on prohormones, three weeks off have been promoted. Some protocols
begin at lower doses of prohormones and increase throughout
the cycle of supplementation. It appears that prohormone supplementation
should probably not exceed seven straight weeks with at least
four weeks of cessation following that period. Side effects
seem to increase when prohormones are taken for longer periods
of time. This would be more dependant on the "type"
and "amount" of prohormones taken.
When I come off prohormones will I lose my gains?
If the muscle gained was done over a very short time then
the chances of losing will will increase. If the muscle gain
was done gradually then you will have a better chance of keeping
most of your gains. So the question is, does the mass go away
after use? Well, test levels will crash after a cycle and
it will be hard to maintain protein resynthesis. This can
take a week or two to recuperate and in that time loss of
mass is not at all unthinkable, in fact it is likely. The
trick is to get the natural levels back up as high as possible.
These are your options:
• Stack in a ski-slope pattern. The decrease will enable
you to get levels back up, but may compromise gains in the
long run.
• Watch the duration and amounts of your stack. As either
increases it will become harder to get natural levels to come
back to where they were.
• Supplement with ZMA after a stack is over. Increased
LH response and better DHEA manufacture in the body will aid
the recovery process. Usually this entails starting a cycle
of ZMA the last three days of your stack and continuing at
the very least 2-3 weeks after.
• For older men, tribulus may do the same.
• Take plenty of ice-cold showers to shock the system.
Related Articles
1,4-Andro
1-Testosterone
19-Nor Prohormones
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