Dr. Tom Storer gave a great talk on androgen regulation of muscle mass at the 1st annual International Society of Sports Nutrition Conference in Vegas.  Needless to say, androgens are a topic that consistently fascinates those of us in the exercise science and sports nutrition arena.  Probably because there is no single ‘ergogenic aid’ (albeit not allowed by sport governing bodies) that is as effective for promoting lean body mass gains, muscular strength and power, and expediting recovery like the might T and it’s chemical cousins.  But as with all amazingly powerful hormones, there are always trade-offs. 

Use and abuse are often a fine line that many in the competitive arena cross.  But at the same time, brushing androgen use with the broad stroke that it’s all ‘abuse’ is intellectually dishonest and just plain lazy thinking.  With that in mind, there are several new reports on androgen metabolism and physiology.  Nandrolone safeFrom the land of flower and windmills1, in an open-label, non-blinded study (study 1) serum lipoproteins and lipids were assessed in 19 subjects who self administered anabolic steroids (‘steroids’) for eight or 14 weeks, and in 16 non-using volunteers. In another study, they did a randomized double blind, placebo controlled design and looked at the effects of intramuscular administration of nandrolone decanoate (200 mg/week) for eight weeks on the same variables in 16 bodybuilders were studied (study 2).

They found that in study 1, steroid administration led to decreases in serum concentrations of HDL-C and Apo-A1 whereas Apo-B increased. Serum Lp(a) declined as well. Total cholesterol and triglycerides did not change significantly. Alterations after eight and 14 weeks of AAS administration were comparable. No changes occurred in the controls. Six weeks after steroid cessation, these measures had still not returned to baseline concentrations. However, take steroids for 14 weeks was associated with slower recovery to pretreatment concentrations than administration for eight weeks.

In study 2, nandrolone decanoate did not influence serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, HDL2-C, HDL3-C, Apo-A1, and Apo-B concentrations after four and eight weeks of intervention, nor six weeks after withdrawal. However, Lp(a) concentrations decreased significantly in the nandrolone decanoate group as well as in the placebo group. Six weeks after the intervention period, Lp(a) concentrations had returned to baseline values in both groups.

The take home message:  not all steroids exert the same effects on various parameters of cardiovascular risk.  In, fact it would seem that nandrolone decanoate doesn’t affect lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, although it may selectively reduce Lp(a) concentrations. Lp(a) is a marker for the development of atherosclerotic disease. Individuals with elevated Lp-a are definitely at an elevated risk of developing atherosclerosis.  Thus, at least with nandrolone, it is relatively safe with regards to cardiovascular risk. 

Marriage bad for nads?
Sometimes you read these studies and you just bust out laughing.  This one was quite fascinating.  According to scientists, it has shown that lower testosterone (T) levels are associated with involvement in committed, romantic relationships in eight studies of North American men.  Can you say ‘whipped?’

Now is the differences in male T levels associated with relationship status better reflect state (e.g., a man has lower T levels because he is involved in a relationship) or trait (e.g., low T men are more inclined toward such relationships) effects.  Or in English, if you’re a wussy boy, you need to be involved with a women to help boost your sagging self-esteem.  Or if you’re a high-testosterone incorrigible dog, then seeking and having a relationship is about as attractive as having your nads removed.  Now that’s a fascinating scientific question.  Here’s how they addressed it!

They looked at data on male salivary T levels among a sample of 65 men varying in marital and parental status. They found that married men had lower evening T levels than unmarried men, corroborating existing North American studies of male T and relationship status. According to the authors, “these results suggest that day-to-day differences in social interactions may not be associated with differences in T levels, and lend further support to the growing body of evidence that hormone-behavior effect sizes may be greater in the afternoon and evening than in the morning.2”  Mmm…translation; when you’re married, T levels are pretty damn low in the evening.  Is this related to that behavior known as naggus interuptus?

Oxandrolone kicks GR butt
Oxandrolone is increasingly used to preserve or restore muscle mass in those with HIV infection, serious burns, and other wasting diseases.3 These effects are related to its binding to the androgen receptor (AR). But also, experiments in cell culture systems showed significant antagonism of cortisol-induced transcriptional activation by oxandrolone in cells expressing both the AR and GR. Thus, oxandrolone has an anti-glucocorticoid effect.  Meaning, it can offset perhaps the catabolic effects of these hormones. 

Get ripped in Ca++
By now you know that if you want to lose fat, calcium (Ca++) intake is paramount.  In a recent study, scientists found an inverse association in calcium intake in Black men, White men and White women.  Meaning, the more calcium they consumed, the leaner they were.  No significant associations were found in Black women.  Thus, if staying lean is on your regimen, drink a lot of non-fat milk or take 1200mg of calcium daily!4

I want my DHEA!
A reduction in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) may be partially responsible for the decline of muscle strength and mass that occurs with aging. Using data from a sample of 558 men (20-95 years), investigators ascertained whether circulating DHEAS is independently associated with muscle strength and mass. They found that “serum DHEAS was an independent predictor of muscle strength and mass, but only for men between 60 and 79 years of age.” Bottom line:  if you’re getting up there in your golden years, DHEA supplementation is worth looking in to!5

BIO
Jose Antonio PhD is the Chief Science Officer of Javalution (www.JavaFit.com) and the President of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (www.sportsnutritionsociety.org).  For information: www.JoseAntonioPhD.com


1.    Hartgens F, Rietjens G, Keizer HA, Kuipers H, Wolffenbuttel BH. Effects of androgenic-anabolic steroids on apolipoproteins and lipoprotein (a). Br J Sports Med. Jun 2004;38(3):253-259.
2.    Gray PB, Campbell BC, Marlowe FW, Lipson SF, Ellison PT. Social variables predict between-subject but not day-to-day variation in the testosterone of US men. Psychoneuroendocrinology. Oct 2004;29(9):1153-1162.
3.    Zhao J, Bauman WA, Huang R, Caplan AJ, Cardozo C. Oxandrolone blocks glucocorticoid signaling in an androgen receptor-dependent manner. Steroids. May 2004;69(5):357-366.
4.    Loos RJ, Rankinen T, Leon AS, et al. Calcium Intake Is Associated with Adiposity in Black and White Men and White Women of the HERITAGE Family Study. J Nutr. Jul 2004;134(7):1772-1778.
5.    Valenti G, Denti L, Maggio M, et al. Effect of DHEAS on skeletal muscle over the life span: the InCHIANTI study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. May 2004;59(5):466-472.