Amozoc
Veteran
- Aug 6, 2016
- 453
- 2
I find the growing medical acceptance of anabolic steroid therapy for age-related hormone (androgen) decline in men to be quite remarkable. After all, this resurgence comes on the heels of two decades of heavy stigmatization. For quite a while, most men suffering the ill effects of “low T” had little recourse. They went to the black market, or just dealt with it. Today, medical treatment is common. Of course, physicians are fairly limited in what they can prescribe. Testosterone gels … testosterone injections … a few less popular testosterone preparations on the side. That’s about it. Perhaps this is in for a change, too. A new paper published in the journal Translational Andrology and Urology makes an early case to throw a completely different steroid into the mix for male hormone replacement therapy (HRT): nandrolone decanoate.1
The paper begins by reviewing some of the clinical history of nandrolone decanoate. One of the most notable medical uses for this drug has been the treatment of osteoporosis. Nandrolone increases the absorption of calcium in bone, and reduces its breakdown. It has since fallen out of favor for this application, however, replaced by more effective drugs. We’ve also seen nandrolone investigated for muscle wasting, anemia and a handful of other diseases. To date, however, there has been little study into its use for treating age-related male hypogonadism. The researchers in this paper suggest nandrolone may be a drug of great interest here, based on the following noteworthy traits.
#1. Reduced Risk of Baldness
One of the first and most obvious ways nandrolone differs from the traditional HRT drug of testosterone is its lower level of androgenicity. This is associated, at least anecdotally, with a lower incidence (or acceleration rate) of male pattern baldness (MPB). This effect is attributed to the unique metabolism of nandrolone. You see, testosterone is highly androgenic mainly because it is converted to a much stronger steroid, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), in areas of the scalp. This localized potentiation is why DHT is linked to MPB so closely. Nandrolone, on the other hand, converts to a much weaker steroid (dihydronandrolone) in these same tissues. The result is a much more anabolic-leaning drug. Given that MPB is a huge concern for men and a known risk with testosterone therapy, nandrolone may just fill a huge need here.
#2. Joint Healing
Another way the researchers suggest that nandrolone might offer an advantage to some patients is in the area of joint healing. If you have been around steroids for any length of time, you are undoubtedly aware of the common wisdom, “Deca improves joint pain.” This ages-old adage has been based on little more than observation and anecdote. And you know what … it might just be legitimate. Researchers here cite recent animal experiments that found nandrolone to improve healing after tendon and rotator cuff injury. If this holds true for humans like we all expect, then we might have something here. Is this a benefit unique to nandrolone, though? We’re not sure, but it still helps make a case for Deca in HRT. And we need to get moving on this. Count me among the multitude of older guys complaining of creaky joints!
#3. Superiority for Lean Body Mass
Nandrolone is less androgenic and has a higher relative anabolic effect, compared to testosterone. Its activity is more focused on tissue growth, which might make it an effective alternative or adjunct to traditional HRT protocols. The emphasis on muscle growth is not just an aesthetic one. Hypogonadism leads to a loss of muscle mass, which in turn may impair peripheral insulin sensitivity (muscle is a major site of insulin action). This makes maintaining muscle mass more difficult, which further impairs insulin sensitivity. It is a vicious cycle that can increase the likelihood of obesity, systemic inflammation and type 2 diabetes. As such, reversing muscle loss and maintaining a strong physique can be important for your health. Perhaps it is time we take a closer look at more purely anabolic drugs like nandrolone.
Summary
The researchers in this paper do point out some potential issues with nandrolone, most notably its low level of androgenicity. This can sometimes lead to erectile dysfunction (ED); another thing we’ve learned from anecdotes long before. This may be more reason to investigate nandrolone as an adjunct or complement to testosterone therapy. This would perhaps offer a greater (more focused) muscle-building effect, a reduced total androgenic load for patients and a lower chance for noticing issues like male pattern baldness and ED. It is still very early, but papers like these are highly encouraging. There was a time, not so long ago, that making such statements would be risky to your career. Today, we are seeing a legitimate emerging field for this type of anabolic research.
The paper begins by reviewing some of the clinical history of nandrolone decanoate. One of the most notable medical uses for this drug has been the treatment of osteoporosis. Nandrolone increases the absorption of calcium in bone, and reduces its breakdown. It has since fallen out of favor for this application, however, replaced by more effective drugs. We’ve also seen nandrolone investigated for muscle wasting, anemia and a handful of other diseases. To date, however, there has been little study into its use for treating age-related male hypogonadism. The researchers in this paper suggest nandrolone may be a drug of great interest here, based on the following noteworthy traits.
#1. Reduced Risk of Baldness
One of the first and most obvious ways nandrolone differs from the traditional HRT drug of testosterone is its lower level of androgenicity. This is associated, at least anecdotally, with a lower incidence (or acceleration rate) of male pattern baldness (MPB). This effect is attributed to the unique metabolism of nandrolone. You see, testosterone is highly androgenic mainly because it is converted to a much stronger steroid, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), in areas of the scalp. This localized potentiation is why DHT is linked to MPB so closely. Nandrolone, on the other hand, converts to a much weaker steroid (dihydronandrolone) in these same tissues. The result is a much more anabolic-leaning drug. Given that MPB is a huge concern for men and a known risk with testosterone therapy, nandrolone may just fill a huge need here.
#2. Joint Healing
Another way the researchers suggest that nandrolone might offer an advantage to some patients is in the area of joint healing. If you have been around steroids for any length of time, you are undoubtedly aware of the common wisdom, “Deca improves joint pain.” This ages-old adage has been based on little more than observation and anecdote. And you know what … it might just be legitimate. Researchers here cite recent animal experiments that found nandrolone to improve healing after tendon and rotator cuff injury. If this holds true for humans like we all expect, then we might have something here. Is this a benefit unique to nandrolone, though? We’re not sure, but it still helps make a case for Deca in HRT. And we need to get moving on this. Count me among the multitude of older guys complaining of creaky joints!
#3. Superiority for Lean Body Mass
Nandrolone is less androgenic and has a higher relative anabolic effect, compared to testosterone. Its activity is more focused on tissue growth, which might make it an effective alternative or adjunct to traditional HRT protocols. The emphasis on muscle growth is not just an aesthetic one. Hypogonadism leads to a loss of muscle mass, which in turn may impair peripheral insulin sensitivity (muscle is a major site of insulin action). This makes maintaining muscle mass more difficult, which further impairs insulin sensitivity. It is a vicious cycle that can increase the likelihood of obesity, systemic inflammation and type 2 diabetes. As such, reversing muscle loss and maintaining a strong physique can be important for your health. Perhaps it is time we take a closer look at more purely anabolic drugs like nandrolone.
Summary
The researchers in this paper do point out some potential issues with nandrolone, most notably its low level of androgenicity. This can sometimes lead to erectile dysfunction (ED); another thing we’ve learned from anecdotes long before. This may be more reason to investigate nandrolone as an adjunct or complement to testosterone therapy. This would perhaps offer a greater (more focused) muscle-building effect, a reduced total androgenic load for patients and a lower chance for noticing issues like male pattern baldness and ED. It is still very early, but papers like these are highly encouraging. There was a time, not so long ago, that making such statements would be risky to your career. Today, we are seeing a legitimate emerging field for this type of anabolic research.
