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Nandrolone benefits, side effects, and dosage.
Nandrolone-Decanoate or Deca Durabolin, or just Deca for short, is a popular anabolic steroid that bodybuilders use to help them bulk up and cut fat. Deca is well-known in the bodybuilding world and in this article, we discuss the benefits of Nandrolone for bodybuilders.
History of Nandrolone
Nandrolone was first developed in 1960. It was made available by Organon Laboratories in 1962 in the form Nandrolone Phenylpropionate under the brand name Durabolin.
Later on, it became famous under the trade name Deca Durabolin, since then several brand names have been produced, however, Deca Durabolin has remained the popular name for this anabolic steroid.
Nandrolone besides being used by bodybuilders has been used in the medical field to treat patients suffering from muscle wasting diseases and to help elderly patients who suffer from symptoms of anemia, weakness, and fatigue. Nandrolone has also been used to treat breast cancer.
Other uses of Nandrolone include:
- Treatment of ulcers
- Pituitary gland deficiency (Dwarfism)
- Treat children suffering from slow development
- Patients suffering from HIV or anemia
- Osteoporosis
- Anti-aging effects
What is Nandrolone?
Nandrolone is a (19-Nor) 19-testosterone anabolic androgenic steroid. The 19-nor distinction is dues to a structural change which is lacking a carbon at the 19th position.
Nandrolone carries a higher anabolic rating than testosterone but not by much, however, it does carry a lower androgenic rating of 37 compared to testosterone's 100.
The reason for the low androgenic rating is because nandrolone reduces to dihydronandrolone instead (DHN) of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This makes Nandrolone a well-tolerated anabolic steroid for men.
Nandrolone causes very little estrogenic activity due to its low aromatase rate of 20% of that of testosterone.
In the bodybuilding world, nandrolone is used as a bulking agent, however, many bodybuilders choose to use this anabolic steroid during cutting cycles as well. Let's take a look at some of the benefits of taking Deca.
1. Improves Muscle Protein Synthesis
Muscle Protein Synthesis (MPS) is a naturally occurring reaction to exercise and is typically balanced by Muscle Protein Breakdown (MPB).
In order for the human body to pack on muscle, the balance between MPS and MPB must tip in favor of MPS. What this means is that you will need to increase the ratio of muscle protein synthesis and decrease the ratio of muscle protein breakdown.
When they are balanced, you remain the same. If MPB is too great (catabolic) then you lose muscle.
So, once you exercise, the process causes your body to pay attention to MPS and MPB. Without eating a ton of food, then MPB increase. If you eat a ton of food other issues occur – we gain weight, fat gain, etc.
To increase muscle protein synthesis, you need testosterone or a form of testosterone, in this case, Deca Durabolin for that increase to happen. That increase in MPS is one of the reasons why Deca is so popular.
The other thing to consider is that once you exercise the after effects last as long as 48 hours. What that means is that for upwards of 48 hours (24-48 hours depending on the intensity of the workout) your body needs to have adequate resources for muscle protein synthesis.
This is a time when your body is deciding if it should repair a muscle cell or replace it. With protein synthesis, your body builds bigger muscle cells.
Nandrolone helps your body to tip the muscle protein synthesis scale so that your muscles can adequately use protein and it does so without requiring that you increase your caloric intake. The up benefit of this is that your muscles recover faster. So, in addition to improving protein synthesis, it helps your body recover quickly so that muscle cell damage is repaired quickly and new cells are replaced faster.
2. Nandrolone Improves Strength and Duration
The other big benefit that Deca Durabolin does for bodybuilders is that it helps to power better workouts. The secret is listed above. Deca helps the muscles recover their energy faster (reduces fatigue)
What that means is that as a bodybuilder you can workout more often with the same results.
Does Deca make you physically able to lift more? No… or not exactly.
There is a boost in energy levels which you can utilize to lift more, but the real benefit is that you can lift more weights more often and that builds up your muscles which is how Deca helps people to gain strength.
That is an important fact.
Often, bodybuilders plateau because of consistent training routines, and training 5-6 days a week.
Taking Deca makes it easier to gain muscle. plus their strength increases and they are able to push past those plateaus.
3. Lower Aromatizing Properties
In comparison to testosterone and many other injectable anabolic steroids, Deca does take longer to convert from synthetic testosterone into estrogen. It will convert to estrogen, it just takes longer. That is a plus for bodybuilders because it slows down the aromatizing process and allows people to use Deca longer.
4. A Great off-season steroid
Many bodybuilders love the benefit that nandrolone offers, in fact, it is a top choice among pro bodybuilders for increasing lean muscle mass. While it does not work as fast as other steroids, it will allow you to gain muscle slowly over time. Slow growth during the offseason is often better because you avoid fat buildup and excess bloating.
5. Increase Nitrogen retention
Boosting nitrogen retention in the muscles is one of the most important things a bodybuilder can do, your muscle tissue is made up of 16% nitrogen. The more nitrogen the muscles retain the better the anabolic environment for gaining muscle is.
Lack of nitrogen will create a catabolic effect and causes you to lose muscle.
Promotes collagen synthesis
6. Nandrolone promotes collagen synthesis and helps prevent joint pain and relief of achy tendons and ligaments.
Other benefits include:
- Increase IGF-1 production
- Improve collagen synthesis
- Increase red blood cell count
- Enhance bone mineral content
Nandrolone side effects
It is important to point out that Nandrolone still carries many of the same side effects of other anabolic steroids and the risk is just as great. The difference is that the process is slower, and people can ride the wave longer (in most cases) than they can with other anabolic steroids.
You may hear that Nandrolone (Deca Durabolin) is a kinder steroid. It is and it isn't. It does not produce all of the side effects of other anabolic steroids.
Other possible side effects may include:
- Gynecomastia (Man Boobs)
- Excess water retention
- High Blood pressure
- Increase in LDL Cholesterol
- Will suppress natural testosterone production
Long-term use of Nandrolone has been associated with Leukemia, enlarged prostate and anemia from iron deficiency.
Nandrolone, unlike many anabolic steroids, is not hepatoxic so there is no stress on the liver.
Dosage
Nandrolone is an injectable anabolic steroid, for medical use, therapeutic doses of Deca are given in 100mg every one to two weeks.
For treating anemia slightly higher doses are prescribed ranging between 100-200mg per week.
For anabolic purposes (bodybuilding) A low dose is considered around 300mg per week, higher doses will range between 400-600mg per week, however, most athletes will not exceed a 400mg dose.
The half-life of Deca-Durabolin (Nandrolone Decanoate) is 14 days.
Buying Nandrolone
Nandrolone is readily available online, many underground labs and black market suppliers sell the steroid. However, it is classified as a schedule Type III controlled substance in the U.S so it is illegal. Before you buy anabolic steroids make sure you fully understand the laws in your country.
Counterfeit versions are not common however you should always do careful research to avoid receiving a counterfeit, underdosed or just flat out being scammed out of your money.
Conclusion
While Deca is still a very popular anabolic steroid, it does have risks, so, unless you are a professional bodybuilder and competing in the big leagues this is probably an anabolic steroid you should avoid. There are many safe legal Deca alternatives that can deliver the same benefits without having to worry about the side effects.
References:
https://www.drugs.com/sfx/deca-durabolin-side-effects.html
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6117/deca-durabolin-intramuscular/details/list-sideeffects
