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Anabolic steroids, or more precisely, anabolic / androgenic steroids, are synthetic derivatives of the natural occurring male hormone testosterone; anabolic meaning growing or building and androgenic meaning masculinizing or generating male sexual characteristics. Most healthy males produce between 2 and 10 milligrams of testosterone per day. The hormones anabolic effects help the body retain dietary protein, thus aiding in the growth of muscle, bones, and skin. The androgenic characteristics of testosterone are associated with masculinity.
They aid in the maturing of the male reproductive system through puberty, the growth of body hair and the deepening of the voice. Androgenic characteristics also affect aggressiveness and sex drive. The use of anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass and aggressive behavior is a fairly old concept. Testosterone was first synthesized in 1935 and used to increase aggressiveness of German soldiers in the Second World War.
But it was not until 1953 that the first true anabolic steroid was discovered. Nandrolone, 19 -nor testosterone, was found to have three to five times the anabolic or muscle building effect of testosterone. While many of the testosterone derivatives are more anabolic than androgenic, there are no anabolic steroids that are purely anabolic or androgenic. Whether anabolic or androgenic effects occur will depend on the dosage and type of anabolic steroid used. As different anabolic steroids became available to the medical community their use became more widespread, especially anabolic steroids that had minimal androgenic properties; the minimal androgenic activity allowed them to be used by females to treat various conditions. Anabolic steroids have proven to be very beneficial in treating several conditions from anemia to sexual dysfunction.
For the past twenty-five years anabolic steroids have been given somewhat of a bad reputation. As early as 1950 athletes were already abusing them and by the 1980 s steroid use by athletes was in full swing. The most famous anabolic steroid of all time, Dianabol, was often quoted as being the breakfast of champions. Horror stories were trickling out of Eastern European countries on how women athletes were transformed into men after years of anabolic steroid use.
And how both male and female athletes were suffering from anyone of a number of different side effects. With such bad publicity and strong media attention the US government labeled anabolic steroids as a schedule III compound. This new classification made it very difficult for US doctors to dispense these compounds except for in well-documented conditions. With the increase incidence of cancer and the continuing battle with AIDS the medical community was in search of a compound that could help battle many of the wasting effects associated with these two conditions. An anabolic steroid with minimal androgenic activity was the answer. But how about all of those nasty side effects that the media spread across the county?
And everyone remembers Lyle Alzado, he died of anabolic steroid use, right? The truth is anabolic steroids are not that dangerous. A study conducted in 1996 and 1997 by Dr. Kristen L. Johansen, and colleagues evaluated the effects of nandrolone decanoate (an anabolic steroid) on lean body mass (LBM), functional status, and quality of life in dialysis patients. One of the side effects associated with dialysis is reduced muscle mass and other wasting effects that are also found in AIDS and cancer patients.
The group exposed to nandrolone decanoate experienced significant increased in lean body mass. The dosages used in this individual study was quite conservative at 100 mg every week. Another study conducted from January to October of 1997 by Dr. Alison Stratford and colleagues set to prove that supra physiological androgen therapy could be beneficial in men with HIV. Unlike the first like the experiment conducted by Dr. Kristen L.
Johansen, and colleagues, this test group was a given 100 mg per week of testosterone as well as 20 a day of oxandrolone (an anabolic steroid). What the researchers found was that a moderately supra physiological androgen regimen that included an anabolic steroid, substantially increased the lean tissue accrual and strength gains. Proposal So how do these amazing compounds exert their muscle building effects? If you asked five doctors you would probably get five different answers or theyd tell you they dont have any muscle building properties and its just a placebo effect.
The muscle building effects probably have something to do with a combination of increased protein synthesis and an anti-catabolic effect. During heavy resistance training, such as weightlifting, stress exerted on muscles induces the release of hormones such as cortisol and prolonged release can cause skeletal muscle breakdown. It is thought that anabolic steroids can inhibit the negative effects of cortisol, although exactly how this occurs is unknown. Objective To determine the exact mechanism by which nandrolone decanoate (anabolic steroid) exhibits its muscle building effects. Design The study would be a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial. A volunteer sample of 36 healthy males would be recruited form the surrounding area.
The sample would then be randomly divided into 4 subgroups: 200 mg per week of nandrolone decanoate with resistance exercise 4 times per week 200 mg per week of nandrolone decanoate with no exercise Placebo with resistance exercise 4 times per week Placebo with no exercise The trial would last for a twelve (12) week period. Blood samples will be drawn bi-weekly to determine high-density lipoprotein levels. Expected results Both nandrolone groups will experience gains in lean body mass. The gains will be much more evident in the group that combined weight training along with the nandrolone. The placebo group with combined resistance exercise will also experience an increase in lean body mass, but it will not be as evident as the nandrolone group. The placebo group with no exercise should have no change Conclusion Anabolic steroids are not the monster that the media has portrayed them to be.
They have been medically proven treat hundreds of different life threatening diseases and have shown great promise in the battle with HIV and cancer. The biggest threat to anyone suffering from either one of these conditions is the wasting effects. Anabolic steroids will not fight of cancer or attack virus that causes AIDS, but they will increase ones life span and their quality of life. The next hurdle is to find out the exact mechanics behind these powerful compounds. Is it just the ant-catabolic effects or is it an increase in protein?
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Research essay sample on Lean Body Mass Anabolic Steroid
