Introduction
The word “steroid” refers to the chemical structure of a class of
compounds. Prefix ‘ster’ is derived from the Greek
word ‘STERE’ which means a solid, and the suffix ‘oid' is derived from the word
‘EIDOS' and is commonly affixed in Greek as a suffix as ‘OIEDES', which means a
three-dimensional form or shape. The types of steroids that we are dealing with
are known as anabolic steroids. The word anabolic comes from the Greek word
“anabole” which means to build up.
Steroids are organic compounds whose chemical structure is composed of four cycloalkane rings that are connected. These rings
are labeled as A, B, C, and D rings and are composed of at least twenty carbon atoms
that are bound together, which form the ring shapes. The A, B, and C rings are cycloalkane
rings known specifically as cyclohexane rings (rings that contain 6 carbon atoms).
The D ring is different and is known as a cyclopentane ring (a ring that contains
5 carbon atoms).
There exist many different
types of steroids, the majority of which are not connected with muscle growth, strength,
or athletic performance. Even opposite, a lot of steroids, destroy and break down
muscle tissue (these steroids are known as corticosteroids). Naturally occurring
steroids (there are hundreds of different types of steroids and steroidal compounds in nature which exist
in plants, animals, insects, and even fungi) are synthesized in cells of the different
aforementioned organisms.
Many different types
of steroids exist in the human body, such as Cholesterol, Cholecalciferol (Vitamin
D), Estrogen, Testosterone, and Cortisol (among many others). For example, Vitamin
D is known as a secosteroid, which is a steroidal molecule but contains a broken
ring. Cholesterol is the basis for all other steroids produced in the human body. Also, Cholesterol
serves as the base steroidal compound that the body’s cells use to synthesize all
other steroids (Estrogen, Testosterone, Vitamin D, etc.).
As we already know,
the word ‘steroid’ refers to the steroid nature of the compound. Anabolic-androgenic
steroids are often abbreviated as AAS. The word ‘androgenic' refers to the masculinizing
effects, and is derived from the Greek words ‘andro’ which means “male” or “masculine”
and ‘genes’ which means “to produce”. Meaning that anabolic steroids are steroids
that promote tissue building or tissue growth, and in this case it refers specifically
to muscle tissue anabolism.
The main anabolic steroid
produced in every human body is the hormone Testosterone. Being the male sex hormone
it provides the male gender with the common male characteristics such as deepening
of the voice, development of bodily and facial hair, and increases in muscle size
and strength. Within the human body, Testosterone is the precursor hormone to Dihydrotestosterone
and Nandrolone, which are two other naturally endogenously, produced anabolic steroids
in the human body. All other anabolic steroids are derived from those three naturally
manufactured anabolic steroids. Meaning, that hundreds of different anabolic steroids
are all modified forms of Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone, or Nandrolone. They
are known as anabolic steroid analogues or derivatives. In case when the anabolic
steroid is an analogue or derivative of Testosterone, it is simply Testosterone
with a modification to its molecular chemical structure.
There are three types
of steroids existing:
1. Testosterone analogues
(or Testosterone derivatives);
2. Dihydrotestosterone
analogues (or Dihydrotestosterone derivatives);
3. Nandrolone analogues
(or Nandrolone derivatives).
Without Testosterone,
Dihydrotestosterone and Nandrolone wouldn’t even exist within the human body, meaning
that without the existence of DHT and Nandrolone, none of their analogues and derivatives
would exist. The development of an anabolic steroid derivative will often have the
same properties and characteristics as its parent hormone (or progenitor hormone).
That is important to
understand that once an anabolic steroid is modified to create a brand new type
of steroid analogue, the resulting analogue is considered now a different hormone
with its unique properties and it may share characteristics with its parent hormone
or have the opposite, or a differing effect.
The Main Goal of Modifying
Testosterone to Create Analogues
The main goal of modifying
Testosterone is to create various analogues of Testosterone that could exhibit different
effects on the human body that may be more productive in the treatment of a certain
condition or disease than Testosterone itself. Another goal could be the development
of a more convenient anabolic steroid for various individuals in different age groups
(children or elderly patients), gender categories, or for patients suffering from
such debilitations and diseases where Testosterone itself may worsen the medical
condition of the patient.
The process started
during anabolic steroid boom in the 1950s – 1980s. The quest was to develop an anabolic
steroid that could be considered ‘perfect’ in the sense that it would provide the
user with all of the benefits of the anabolic effects but without undesirable estrogenic
or androgenic side effects. The main idea of such development and use of different
analogues is that the discovery of the ideal anabolic steroid analogue which exhibits
a stronger anabolic effect than Testosterone itself. Such ideal anabolic steroid
would also provide the athlete with less negative effects while exhibiting more
of the positive ones. Sometimes the use of Testosterone or various other anabolic
steroids is not advisable due to various attributes they may have that could worsen
the results in specific athletic activities. For example, Testosterone tends to
promote water retention through its ability to be aromatized into Estrogen via the
aromatase enzyme. While such an effect might be beneficial for a strength athlete
or a powerlifter, this is not the desired effect for athletes involved in sports
that involve speed and swiftness, for example sprinting.
The Importance of Using Testosterone as
a Reference Point
It is crucial to understand
that Testosterone is utilized as the measuring stick and all other anabolic steroids
are measured against it, referenced with it, and compared to it. Upon understanding
this, that is easy to observe how a particular given anabolic steroid possesses
an anabolic strength that might be several times stronger (or weaker) than Testosterone
(Testosterone’s anabolic and androgenic ratings are both respectively 100). The
importance of the anabolic and androgenic strength ratings of 100 is paramount to
understanding the different strengths of the various types of steroids.
Testosterone Derivatives
All anabolic steroids
could be considered as derivatives or analogues of Testosterone, but there are several
direct derivatives of Testosterone that exist. Derivatives of Testosterone will
possess and exhibit the same properties as Testosterone itself, and this can present
both advantages and disadvantages.
First officially created
Testosterone analog was Methandrostenolone (Dbol), which was followed by Boldenone
(Equipoise). The general characteristics of Testosterone derivatives are very similar
its parent hormone: they all exhibit the ability to aromatize into Estrogen and
they all exhibit the ability to interact with the 5-alpha-reductase (5AR) enzyme
to become reduced to a stronger androgen. Even though they do not reduce into Dihydrotestosterone
as Testosterone does, they still can interact with the 5AR enzyme and reduce to
their own respective individual stronger androgens (Dianabol will reduce into Dihydromethandrostenolone
and Boldenone will reduce into Dihydroboldenone). Anyway, the reduction of these
analogs into their stronger androgenic metabolites is different from Testosterone
because they are reduced into very small trace amounts (usually the result of the
structural modifications allowing these anabolic steroid analogs to possess a lesser
affinity to bind to the 5AR enzyme).
Dihydrotestosterone Derivatives
Dihydrotestosterone
analogues are different types of steroids that are derived from Dihydrotestosterone.
These anabolic steroids use Dihydrotestosterone as the base template for the modifications
to the core Dihydrotestosterone chemical structure.
The majority of anabolic
steroids are Dihydrotestosterone derivatives and belong to the family of DHT-derivatives
(such as Winstrol, Anavar, Primobolan, Masteron, and several others). Dihydrotestosterone
is a very unique anabolic steroid because it holds absolutely no activity within
muscle tissue, which is a very interesting and unusual fact. All anabolic steroids
from the family of DHT-derivative contain modifications to their chemical structures
that grant them significant activity and effectiveness within muscle tissue, where
unmodified DHT would never survive metabolism. This is so because Dihydrotestosterone,
once it enters muscle tissue, is instantly deactivated and metabolized into two
ineffective hormones by an enzyme. This enzyme is the 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
enzyme, which is present in large quantities in muscle tissue and is the enzyme
that serves to metabolize any DHT that enters muscle tissue into two inactive metabolites: 3-Alpha Androstanediol and 3-Beta Androstanediol.
These two hormones which are metabolites of DHT are not anabolic whatsoever in muscle
tissue. The nature of DHT being a non-anabolic steroid is because of the outside
factors and has nothing to do with the properties and nature of the hormone itself.
But it wouldn’t be right to refer to DHT as only an androgenic steroid as it also
holds the capability to be anabolic, but is stripped of that experience as soon
as it enters muscle tissue by the enzyme 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.
The typical characteristics
of DHT derivatives are those of elimination of any possible interaction with the
aromatase enzyme, thereby allowing all DHT derivatives to exhibit absolutely no
estrogenic activity. Anadrol (Oxymetholone) is the only exception as it possesses
a high degree of Estrogenic activity, but this is not because of interaction with
the aromatase enzyme – it cannot interact with the aromatase enzyme. Anadrol instead
exhibits unique properties because it and its metabolites can act as Estrogens themselves
in various tissues in the body.
DHT derivatives will
exhibit no Estrogenic activity in the body, meaning there will be no such side effects
as bloating and water retention, gynecomastia, and other Estrogen-related side effects.
This fact makes them the preferred choice among bodybuilders and athletes than other
types of steroids. Bodybuilders utilize it for fat loss and cutting phases of dieting.
DHT derivatives do not interact with the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which is responsible
for the conversion of Testosterone to the much more androgenic Dihydrotestosterone.
DHT derivatives have already been reduced, meaning there is no risk involved in
these types of steroids converting to any metabolite that exhibits
stronger androgenic effects.
Nandrolone Derivatives
The only existing derivative
of Nandrolone is Trenbolone. Although other Nandrolone analogues have been developed,
they are not popular. Trenbolone is an anabolic androgen. Being
a derivative of Nandrolone means that Trenbolone
is a 19-Nor anabolic compound. 19-Nor anabolics come from Nandrolone and they are
created by removing the 19th carbon. Nandrolone
and Trenbolone belong to a unique category
of anabolic steroids known as Progestins.
Trenbolone being a Nandrolone
derivative is, of course, missing the aforementioned carbon atom at the 19th position (which is, in reality, a whole methyl group)
and this carbon atom is instead replaced by double-bonds between the two carbon
atoms that the 19th carbon was originally bound with
(this differs from Nandrolone itself where the lacking 19th carbon is simply replaced with a hydrogen atom instead
of double-bonds in Trenbolone’s case). This quality makes them unique compared
to other anabolics. This lack of a 19th carbon is what increases the resistance of 19-nor compounds
to interact with the aromatase enzyme and therefore very resistant to any Estrogen
conversion.
Trenbolone also contains
modifications at carbons 19 and 11, where one hydrogen atom was removed from each
carbon so that carbons 19 and 11 become double-bonded with their neighboring carbon
atoms in their respective cycloalkane rings. Thanks to these additional modifications
of double-bonds at carbon 19 and 11, Trenbolone has increased resistance to aromatization
and is completely immune to it, meaning it is unable to interact with the aromatase
enzyme. These modifications are also responsible for granting Trenbolone with the
extremely high anabolic and androgenic strength ratings.
19-nor Progestational
compounds exhibit various unique effects and side effects in the body, that are
not seen among many other types of steroids. The study of a group of 19-nor anabolic
steroids shown that they tend to exhibit a binding affinity for the Progesterone
receptors in the body. Trenbolone possesses very strong binding affinity (much stronger
than Nandrolone itself) for the Progesterone receptor. This is one of the reasons
why Trenbolone possesses side effects that are rarely seen in other anabolic steroids
that are not Progestins.
Progestogenic side effects
are almost identical to Estrogenic side effects and include severe endogenous Testosterone
production shutdown/suppression, gynecomastia, and water retention. There is evidence
that the activity of Progestins is closely correlated with the activity of Estrogen
in the body. Special attention should be paid to understand the Progestogenic properties
of Nandrolone and its derivatives before start to using them. Also, research should
be done on how to properly deal with the associated Progestogenic side effects in
case they occur.
19-nor compounds (Nandrolone
derivatives) mainly are chosen by athletes and bodybuilders for the same reasons
as DHT derivatives. 19-nor compounds are either highly resistant to aromatization
or do not aromatize into Estrogen at all (like Trenbolone), and therefore eliminate
the Estrogen-related side effects such as water retention/bloating and gynecomastia.
19-nor compounds also do not interact with the 5AR enzyme or interact with it in
very miniscule amounts (in Nandrolone’s case).
The Myth of Anabolic Steroids for Bulking
and/or Cutting
There is the popular
myth that there are various anabolic steroids made specifically for ‘bulking’ and/or
specifically for ‘cutting’. First of all,
Anabolic steroids do not directly burn fat instead they simply increase nutrient
partitioning. Nutrient partitioning is defined as the effect of directing ingested
nutrients, vitamins, and minerals towards muscle repair and muscle growth to a large
degree – so much so that fat storage is either completely avoided or dramatically
reduced.
Anabolic steroids do
not possess any direct effects on fat metabolism, they do interact with androgen
receptors on fat tissue to initiate lipolysis (fat breakdown), but this does not
give any significant results. Some types of steroids exhibit the aforementioned
extreme level of nutrient partitioning at a far greater degree than any other anabolic
steroid, especially anabolic steroids such as TRENBOMED A 100 (Trenbolone Acetate).
Even TESTOMED P 100 (Testosterone Propionate) does this, when an individual is engaged
in their first-ever cycle of Testosterone, this results in the gaining of lean mass,
and a reduction of varying degrees of body fat percentage. That is very important
to remember the fact that results are 100% dependent on the individual’s nutrition
and training.
Different types of steroids
merely serve as a help to the efforts and hard work that the nutrition and training
aspects have properly established. If the user's main goal is fat loss, then the
individual’s nutrition must reflect that by either engaging in a caloric deficit
or some sort of nutritional plan that supports fat loss. There are various anabolic
steroids which also might exhibit effects and properties that support bulking or
mass-gaining cycles, for example, such as
DIANAMED 10 (Methandienone) or ANADROMED 10 (Oxymetholone), but it does not mean
that they cannot be utilized for fat loss or cutting. The result depends on the
individual's diet that will determine whether fat loss or muscle gain will be achieved.
Most athletes decide
not to use compounds such as DIANAMED 10 (Methandienone) for fat loss. This decision is based on the fact that
DIANAMED 10 (Methandienone) exhibits Estrogenic
activity that results in water retention and bloating, resulting in the puffy, bloated,
and soft look to the physique that is not desired during fat loss phases.
That is easy to avoid this limitation with the
inclusion of an aromatase inhibitor, but the main thing must be understood here:
nutrition and training determine results, not the types of steroids used.
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