Gaining muscle, lifting weights, and BJJ. Is it possible?

[Big Johnson]

The anabolic steroid oxandrolone increases muscle mass in prepubertal boys with constitutional delay of growth.

Papadimitriou A, Preece MA, Rolland-Cachera MF, Stanhope R.

First Department of Pediatrics, Penteli Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. lix@ath.forthnet.gr

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oxandrolone on body composition in boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty. In 14 prepubertal boys, height, weight, triceps and subscapular skinfolds and upper arm circumference were measured. Body mass index, the ratio of subscapular to triceps skinfolds and the upper muscle area were also determined. The difference of the various measurements and indices, 3 to 6 months before and after commencement of oxandrolone treatment, were calculated, while the boys remained prepubertal. We observed a marked increase in body mass index, a decrease of triceps and subscapular skinfolds, an increase in the ratio of subscapular to triceps skinfolds and also an increase in upper muscle area after the onset of oxandrolone treatment. These results suggest that low dose oxandrolone administration in prepubertal boys with constitutional growth delay causes a disproportionate increase of weight to height which is largely due to increased body muscle.

[Big Johnson]

A randomized efficacy and safety trial of oxandrolone in the treatment of Duchenne dystrophy.

Fenichel GM, Griggs RC, Kissel J, Kramer TI, Mendell JR, Moxley RT, Pestronk A, Sheng K, Florence J, King WM, Pandya S, Robison VD, Wang H.

Department of Neurology, Ohio State University College of Medicine, USA. gerald.fenichel@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu

BACKGROUND: A pilot study suggested that oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, improved strength in boys with Duchenne dystrophy (DD) and indicated the need for a more definitive study. METHODS: A 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of oxandrolone in boys with an established diagnosis of DD, using the change from baseline to 6 months in the average muscle strength score (MMT) as the primary efficacy measure. RESULTS: The mean change from baseline for the oxandrolone group was +0.035 and that for the placebo group was -0.140. Although the oxandrolone group did not get worse and the placebo patients showed some deterioration in strength, the difference was not significant (p = 0.13). The average of the four quantitative muscle tests (QMT) showed a significant improvement in the oxandrolone-treated boys as compared with placebo. No adverse reactions attributable to oxandrolone were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Although oxandrolone did not produce a significant change in the average manual muscle strength score as compared with placebo, the mean change in QMT was significant. Because oxandrolone is safe, accelerates linear growth, and may have some beneficial effect in slowing the progress of weakness, it may be useful before initiating corticosteroid therapy.

Publication Types:
Clinical Trial
Multicenter Study
Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 11320181 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Big Johnson]

Adjunctive therapies in nutritional support.

Ziegler TR, Leader LM, Jonas CR, Griffith DP.

Department of Medicine, Emory University Hospital, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

The need for new therapeutic approaches to improve the metabolic and clinical efficacy of nutritional therapy has been increasingly emphasized. The field of nutrition support of catabolic, malnourished, or hospitalized patients is rapidly evolving in response to the beneficial effects observed with adjunctive therapies in animal models and in emerging clinical investigations. Enteral nutrition is being increasingly administered, and enteral diets are being tested to improve gut structure and function. Adjunctive therapies in enteral and parenteral nutrition are being actively investigated. These include administration of recombinant growth factors and anabolic steroid hormones (e.g., growth hormone, oxandrolone); conditionally essential amino acids (e.g., arginine, glutamine); novel lipid products (e.g., structured lipids, fish oils); nutrient antioxidants (e.g., vitamins C and E); and combinations of these approaches. It is likely that current methods of enteral and parenteral nutrition support will evolve in response to the results of these research studies.

[Big Johnson]

Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, significantly increases the rate of weight gain in the recovery phase after major burns.

Demling RH, DeSanti L.

Brigham and Women's Hospital Burn Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

We studied the effect of an anabolic steroid, oxandrolone, combined with a high-protein diet (2 g/kg/day) on the rate of weight gain and restoration of muscle function in the recovery phase after deep burns of 30 of 50% of total body surface (n = 7). The findings were compared with findings from an isocaloric (2 g/kg/day protein) diet alone (n = 6). The study was prospective and randomized. Data were also compared retrospectively with data from a group of burn patients treated in the same fashion using a high-calorie, high-protein diet with a protein content of 1.3 to 1.4 g/kg/day (n = 10). Muscle function was quantified using a physical therapy index defining rate of progress (0 = lowest, 10 = highest). Oxandrolone was given in the beginning of the recovery phase in a dosage of 10 mg orally twice a day. The recovery phase was defined as resolution of the hypermetabolic state using physiologic criteria. The study was performed in an acute burn rehabilitation facility where patients were transferred once entering the recovery phase. Patients in each group were not different with regard to age and burn size. We found that mean weight loss for all patients was 11 +/- 2% of preburn weight during the catabolic phase despite optimum nutrition and early wound closure. Data are presented as mean +/- SD. We found that the average weight gain during the first 3 weeks was 14.5 +/- 2.5 pounds and that the physical therapy index was 8.8 +/- 0.5 of recovery in the oxandrolone-protein group (n = 7); both of these values were significantly greater than the corresponding values in the other groups. In the high-protein alone group (n = 6), weight gain was 7.5 +/- 1.7 pounds and physical therapy index was 7.0 +/- 0.8. In the retrospective group (n = 10), weight gain was 4.4 +/- 0.8 pounds and function index was 4.1 +/- 0.5. The daily caloric intake was not different between groups. Protein content and oxandrolone were the variables. No side effects were noted with oxandrolone. We can conclude that an anabolic steroid combined with increased protein intake can significantly increase the rate of restoration of weight gain postburn.

[Big Johnson]

Oral anabolic steroid treatment, but not parenteral androgen treatment, decreases abdominal fat in obese, older men.

Lovejoy JC, Bray GA, Greeson CS, Klemperer M, Morris J, Partington C, Tulley R.

Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808-4124, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of testosterone enanthate (TE), anabolic steroid (AS) or placebo (PL) on regional fat distribution and health risk factors in obese middle-aged men undergoing weight loss by dietary means. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, carried out for 9 months with primary assessments at 3 month intervals. Due to adverse blood lipid changes, the AS group was switched from oral oxandrolone (ASOX) to parenteral nandrolone decaoate (ASND) after the 3 month assessment point. SUBJECTS: Thirty healthy, obese men, aged 40-60 years, with serum testosterone (T) levels in the low-normal range (2-5 ng/mL). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Abdominal fat distribution and thigh muscle volume by CT scan, body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), insulin sensitivity by the Minimal Model method, blood lipids, blood chemistry, blood pressure, thyroid hormones and urological parameters. RESULTS: After 3 months, there was a significantly greater decrease in subcutaneous (SQ) abdominal fat in the ASOX group compared to the TE and PL groups although body weight changes did not differ by treatment group. There was also a tendency for the ASOX group to exhibit greater losses in visceral fat, and the absolute level of visceral fat in this group was significantly lower at 3 months than in the TE and PL groups. There were significant main effects of treatment at 3 months on serum T and free T (increased in the TE group and decreased in the ASOX group) and on thyroid hormone parameters (T4 and T3 resin uptake significantly decreased in the ASOX group compared with the other two groups). There was a significant decrease in HDL-C, and increase in LDL-C in the ASOX group, which led to their being switched to the parenteral nandrolone decanoate (ASND) after 3 months. ASND had opposite effects on visceral fat from ASOX, producing a significant increase from 3 to 9 months while continuing to decrease SQ abdominal fat. ASND treatment also decreased thigh muscle area, while ASOX treatment increased high muscle. ASND reversed the effects of ASOX on lipoproteins and thyroid hormones. The previously reported effect of T to decrease visceral fat was not observed, in fact, visceral fat in the TE group increased slightly from 3 to 9 months, although SQ fat continued to decrease. Neither TE nor AS treatment resulted in any change in urologic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Oral oxandrolone decreased SQ abdominal fat more than TE or weight loss alone and also tended to produce favorable changes in visceral fat. TE and ASND injections given every 2 weeks had similar effects to weight loss alone on regional body fat. Most of the beneficial effects observed on metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors were due to weight loss per se. These results suggest that SQ and visceral abdominal fat can be independently modulated by androgens and that at least some anabolic steroids are capable of influencing abdominal fat.

[Big Johnson]

Protein energy malnutrition in severe alcoholic hepatitis: diagnosis and response to treatment. The VA Cooperative Study Group #275.

Mendenhall CL, Moritz TE, Roselle GA, Morgan TR, Nemchausky BA, Tamburro CH, Schiff ER, McClain CJ, Marsano LS, Allen JI, et al.

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers: Cincinnati, Ohio 45220, USA.

BACKGROUND: Active nutrition therapy and the anabolic steroid oxandrolone (OX), in selected patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, significantly improved liver status and survival. We report here on the changes in their nutritional parameters. METHODS: Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) was evaluated and expressed as percent of low normal in 271 patients initially, at 1 month and at 3 months. Active therapy consisted of OX plus a high caloric food supplement vs a matching placebo and a low calorie supplement. RESULTS: PEM was present in every patient; mean PEM score 60% of low normal. Most of the parameters improved significantly from baseline on standard care; the largest improvement seen in visceral proteins, the smallest in fat stores (skinfold thickness). Total PEM score significantly correlated with 6 month mortality (p = .0012). Using logistic regression analysis, creatinine height index, hand grip strength and total peripheral blood lymphocytes were the best risk factors for survival. When CD lymphocyte subsets replaced total lymphocyte counts in the equation, CD8 levels became a significant risk factor (p = .004). Active treatment produced significant risk factor (p = .004). Active treatment produced significant improvements in those parameters related to total body and muscle mass (ie, mid arm muscle area, p = .02; creatinine height index, p = .03; percent ideal body weight, p = .04). CONCLUSION: Deterioration in nutritional parameters is a significant risk factor for survival in severe patients with alcoholic hepatitis. This deterioration is reversible with standard hospital care. Active therapy further improves creatinine height index, mid arm muscle area and total lymphocyte counts. Hence, these later parameters appear to be the best indicators for follow-up assessments.

[Big Johnson]

Oxandrolone therapy in skeletal dysplasia.

Buyukgebiz A, Kovanlikaya I.

Department of Pediatrics, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir.

Three patients with short stature and different forms of skeletal dysplasia were treated with oxandrolone, 1.25 mg/day. All patients had a normal growth hormone response (10 ng/ml) to the insulin-induced hypoglycemia test (ITT). After one year of follow-up, it was noted that the pretreatment growth rate which was 2.5 cm/yr in the patient with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (chronological age, 13 4/12 yr) had increased to 6.7 cm/yr after one year of treatment, while the pretreatment growth rate of the patient with hypochrondroplasia (chronological age, 12 7/12 yr) which was recorded at 2 cm/yr had risen to 5.3 cm/yr. The patient with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (chronological age, 9 5/12 yr) had a pretreatment growth rate of 1.5 cm/yr which had risen to 8 cm/yr after the same period of treatment. An increase was noted in the height standard deviation score for chronological age and in the height standard deviation score for bone age in all patients. After one year of therapy, all patients were observed to still be in the prepubertal stage. Oxandrolone therapy seems to be useful in the treatment of short stature seen in skeletal dysplasia. However, a more lengthy study is needed in order to assess the efficacy of treatment with regard to adult height prognosis and to determine the optimal dosing required.

[Big Johnson]

Anabolic steroid effects on immune function: differences between analogues.

Mendenhall CL, Grossman CJ, Roselle GA, Hertelendy Z, Ghosn SJ, Lamping K, Martin K.

Department of Medicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220.

As an untoward effect of chronic anabolic steroid use, immunologic alterations may be induced. To evaluate this possibility five commercially available steroids with various types of structural differences were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were divided into five groups and treated with testosterone (Group 1), testosterone propionate (Group 2), testolactone (Group 3), oxandrolone (Group 4), and stanozolol (Group 5). Androgenic anabolic steroids were administered daily, subcutaneously dissolved in oil, at a dose of 1.1 mg/kg. Immune alterations were assessed by skin-test responses to phytohemagglutinin. After five days of treatment (1.1 mg/kg/day) a significant immuno-suppression was observed with all groups. However, by day 10, groups 3, 4, and 5 showed an immuno-stimulation. Using oxandrolone as the model stimulant, serum testosterone levels were significantly suppressed, while castration abolished the stimulatory effect. These observations indicate that immune alterations do occur with anabolic steroids which are immuno-suppressive when the steroid nucleus is intact and immuno-stimulatory with nuclear alterations. It appears that these changes are associated with altered gonadal testosterone release.

[Big Johnson]

The effect of anabolic steroids on lean body mass: the dose response curve.

Forbes GB.

Data from human subjects given various amounts of anabolic steroids show that the resultant increment in lean body mass (LBM) has the features of a typical dose response curve. Low doses produce a very modest effect, while large doses result in a progressive augmentation of the LBM. Endogenous testosterone production during male adolescence is accompanied by a sex differential in LBM that is comparable to the LBM increment generated by exogenous steroids given to adults.

[Big Johnson]

Use of anabolic agents in treatment of short children.

Kelley VC, Ruvalcaba RH.

As indicated in previous sections of this review, all anabolic steroids produce acceleration in linear growth in children with short stature. However, the rapid masculinization induced by testosterone and other anabolic steroids and especially the disproportionately rapid epiphyseal maturation produced by these compounds have brought this form of therapy for short stature into disrepute. Not all investigators concur that testosterone therapy inevitably results in reduction of eventual adult height attainment and, depending on the age of onset of therapy and the dose employed, it has been reported that adult height attainment equals or exceeds the adult height prediction at the time of instituting therapy. Attempts to synthesize anabolic steroids with improved anabolic/androgenic ratios have been continuing for many years. Among currently available anabolic steroids it appears that the best separation of anabolic and androgenic properties has been attained with oxandrolone. This is reflected by the fact that most recent studies of growth promotion by anabolic steroids have employed this compound. From the results of these studies, it appears that doses of this drug capable of significant stimulation of growth generally do not cause excessive masculinization or unacceptably rapid acceleration of epiphyseal maturation and do not compromise eventual height attainment. Certain studies mentioned above suggest that it might be possible to devise therapeutic programmes employing other anabolic steroids which would produce equally satisfactory results. However, because of the more favourable anabolic/androgenic ratio of oxandrolone it seems likely that the increasing trend toward use of this drug for growth promotion will continue.

[Big Johnson]

Oxandrolone and plasma triglyceride reduction: effect on triglyceride-rich and high density lipoproteins.

Hara T, Miller JP, Gotto AM Jr, Patsch JR.

Oxandrolone, an anabolic androgenic steroid, has been shown repeatedly to lower plasma triglycerides in hypertriglyceridemic patients. This study was performed to determine which of seven subfractions of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are affected by the action of oxandrolone with respect to both their plasma levels and composition. Concurrently, we have determined the levels and composition of HDL subfractions and the plasma levels of the major HDL apoprotein, apoA-I. Oxandrolone was administered to two hypertriglyceridemic subjects, one with type III and one with type V hyperlipoproteinemia until plasma triglycerides were below the target level of 270 mg/dl. Two months and two weeks were required for the type III and type V patients, respectively. In both subjects, the treatment caused a reduction in the plasma levels of all seven subclasses of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins without altering their overall composition. LDL were at least temporarily increased. The reduction of VLDL subfractions caused by oxandrolone was accompanied by a progressive and consistent effect on HDL subfractions in both hypertriglyceridemic subjects; in the type III patient, oxandrolone reduced HDL2 from low pretreatment levels further until they became undetectable. The type V subject had no detectable HDL2 levels prior to treatment. In both subjects, oxandrolone lowered the levels of HDL3. This lowering effect was caused by a preferential reduction of the less dense, major HDL3 subfraction, i.e. HDL3L, causing the denser, smaller HDL3 subfraction, HDL3D, to become the predominant HDL class. The lowering of HDL levels was reflected by a decrease in the plasma levels of the major HDL apoprotein, apoA-I. This first report on the simultaneous reduction of VLDL and the larger, less dense HDL subclasses suggest that oxandrolone lowers plasma triglycerides by a mechanism other than increased lipolysis.

[Big Johnson]

Pregnenolone is taken to enhance mental alertness and awareness, improve long-term memory, improve mood and reduce symptoms of PMS, arthritis, and stress.

Pregnenolone, like DHEA, is a steroidal hormone manufactured in the body.

Pregnenolone has been found to be 100 times more effective for memory enhancement than other steroids or steroid-precursors in laboratory mice. Dr. Eugene Roberts, PHD says about pregnenolone, "appears to be the most potent memory enhancer yet reported in animals."

Pregnenolone has been reported to not only make people smarter but happier and enhance ones ability to perform on the job while heightening feelings of well-being. Pregnenolone enhances the ability to aquire knowledge and motivation.

Pregnenolone has been reported to reduce high stress induced fatigue.

According to Dr. Ray Sahelian, MD taken from his wonderful book, Pregnenolone: Nature’s Feel-Good Hormone, "I am 100 percent convinced that taking pregnenolone leads to changes in awareness and alertness. notice an improved visual clarity...within an hour of dosing." In his book he goes on to write of his own experience from taking pregnenolone "a mellow, steady, persistent feeling of well-being...had imperceptibly come on...Flowers seemed...brighter and prettier...my attention focused on the architecture of the homes...I started noticing the patterns of the stones, the shapes of the windows, doorways, porticos and other details...the palm trees...appeared Caribbean island-like picturesque. Everything seemed more beautiful and intriguing. I felt a sense of child wonder, that everything was okay. How special and enchanting life could be!"

[Guest]

Apparently steroid abuse can lead to an addiction in cutting and pasting.

Remember, you heard it here first!

[Big Johnson]

Originally posted by Bri Thai
Apparently steroid abuse can lead to an addiction in cutting and pasting.

Remember, you heard it here first!

You have been defeated, Grasshoper.

When you can snatch the scissors and paste from my hand, then you will be ready.

[KAYNE]

Originally posted by Bri Thai
So, if intelligence means knowledge, which means discipline......then Body Builders are intelligent? Maybe.

But if intelligence means intelligence, then they are bunch of thick twats.

Who else thinks it is a worthwhile pursuit to put there energies into being unhealthy? All that dehydrating and "chemicals". And tan cream...... Its' hardly the engagement of the intellectual elite is it?

THE ONLY TIME THEY DEHYDRATE THEMSELVES IS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS LEADING UP TO A SHOW, WHICH PROBABLY AMOUNTS TO 5-7 DAYS/YEAR. FOR MOST OF THE TOP BB'S, ITS ONLY ONE SHOW.

YOU DONT HEAR OF MANY BB'S DROPPING DEAD FROM STEROID USE DO YOU? BESIDES, ALL THE GUYS YOU IDOLIZE IN MARTIAL ARTS, USE STEROIDS. I HATE TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE BUT ITS TRUE.

I CAN RELATE YOUR LOGIC TO COMPETITIVE MIXED MARTIAL ARTISTS AS WELL. WHY DO THEY PUT THEMSELVES THROUGH ALL WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY FOR MINIMAL RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT. ITS MUCH EASIER TO MAKE MONEY BEING A BODYBUILDER THAN IT IS BY BEING A MIXED MARTIAL ARTIST. TITO IS THE TOP GUY IN THE MMA SCENE AND HE DOESNT EVEN MAKE THE MONEY THAT OLYMPIA COMPETITORS MAKE.





KAYNE