What are anabolic steroids?
Anabolic steroids" is the familiar name for synthetic substances related to the male sex hormones (androgens). They promote the growth of skeletal muscle (anabolic effects) and the development of male sexual characteristics (androgenic effects), and also have some other effects. The term "anabolic steroids" will be used through-out this report because of its familiarity, although the proper term for these compounds is "anabolic-androgenic" steroids.

Anabolic steroids were developed in the late 1930s primarily to treat hypogonadism, a condition in which the testes do not produce sufficient testosterone for normal growth, development, and sexual functioning. The primary medical uses of these compounds are to treat delayed puberty, some types of impotence, and wasting of the body caused by HIV infection or other diseases.

During the 1930s, scientists discovered that anabolic steroids could facilitate the growth of skeletal muscle in laboratory animals, which led to use of the compounds first by bodybuilders and weightlifters and then by athletes in other sports. Steroid abuse has become so widespread in athletics that it affects the outcome of sports contests.

More than 100 different anabolic steroids have been developed, but they require a prescription to be used legally in the United States. Most steroids that are used illegally are smuggled in from other countries, illegally diverted from U.S. pharmacies, or synthesized in clandestine laboratories.

What are steroid alternatives?
19-norandrostenedione is the nandrolone equivalent of androstenedione. It is an efficient precursor to its active steroid form, and overall is considered nothing short of a well-proven anabolic. Although like androstenedione this hormone is open to estrogen conversion in its initial state, the tendency for 19-nor steroids to interact with the necessary enzyme is very low. We therefore see very few reported problems with water/fat retention and gynecomastia, even when this supplement is taken in heavier cycles. Most users report a solid gain of muscle mass, typically with an accompanying loss of body fat and increased visibility.

Using the transdermal product DermaGAIN by Impact Nutrition is a particularly advantageous way of administering this hormone actually DermaGAIN contains a combination of both this and the following nandrolone precursors), as this method of delivery bypasses the first pass by the liver that can deactivate greater than 90% of the ingested hormone. Transdermal deliver allows for near total absorption of the compound into the blood stream. Impact additionally uses DIM (diindolylmethane) in this product, and anti-estrogenic substance that works by enhancing the metabolic breakdown of estrogens. Though it may seem unneeded, it was added as a protective measure to combat the actions of any minimal estrogen buildup that could possibly result.

19-nor 4-androstenediol:
Like 4-androstenediol, this prohormone utilizes a more active enzyme in its biotransformation to the steroid nandrolone. It is therefore slightly more potent in comparison to 19-norandrostenedione, however both of these two nandrolone precursors are considered solidly effective anabolics. Only those extremely sensitive to estrogen or using unusually high amounts will likely ever notice a difference in estrogen conversion rates, although technically this prohormone would be more suitable in this regard as it avoids any possible direct path of conversion (the same trait noted with 4-androstenediol). Otherwise these two precursors are really interchangeable. Combining these two prohormones (as in DermaGAIN) actually seems to be the most advantageous method of taking nandrolone precursors, as this utilizes two distinct paths of metabolism for the optimal buildup of active steroid in the blood stream.

19-nor 5-androstenediol:
This prohormone is a 19-nor form of 5-androstenediol. While we don't have much to report about 5androstenediol, there is even less to report about this compound. Its conversion rate to nandrolone is low, and there likewise seems to be little in terms of positive feedback. It seems to be more the product of a clear manufacturing opportunity than of research and successful application. Some may find a use for this compound, but it is clearly not the efficient nandrolone precursor we see in 19-nor 4-androstenediol.

1,4-androstadiene-3-one,17b-ol:
Boldenone is a popular anabolic steroid, manufactured as boldenone undecylenate in several veterinary drug preparations including Ganabol, Equipoise, Ultragan, Maxigan and Equi-gan. Structurally boldenone (1,4-androstadiene-3-one,17b-ol) is a close derivative of testosterone (4-androstene-3-one,17b-ol), differing from this androgen only by the addition of a second double bond in the A-ring of the structure (between carbons one and two). Likewise its direct precursor 1,4-androstadienedione differs from testosterone's direct precursor 4-androstenedione only by this same alteration, and converts to active form via the same widely distributed body enzyme (17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which interconverts these hormones between inactive 17-keto and active 17-beta hydroxy form). Very effective for increasing RBC blood plasma levels, enhancing recovery, and overall muscle growth.

Equi-bolan by Impact Nutrition is an oral steroidal precursor to boldenone.

5-alpha androstanediol:
Maxteron (5-alpha androstanediol) is the first dihydrotestosterone (DHT) prohormone to be developed. DHT is typically thought of as a side effect hormone, however this is more a product of misunderstanding than fact. In the human body DHT is much more active than testosterone, and is produced locally in tissues sensitive to androgen action such as the prostate, skin, scalp and certain areas of the central nervous system. It is for this reason that its presence is usually associated with side effects, however it activates the same cellular receptor that testosterone does. The applications for a DHT prohormone are actually quite numerous, as it represents the only truly non-aromatizable (will not convert to estrogen)

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