Cost Comparison Of Anabolic Agents Available In The United States: Weight Gained Vers
Growth Hormone Versus Anabolic Steroids
The following table graphically illustrates the tremendous disparity between different anabolic compounds for price versus lean body mass gained. One study showed that nandrolone decanoate delivered as much as 11.88 pounds of lean body mass (LBM) over 15 weeks, yet it only cost $56 per month. Serostim human growth hormone (hGH) at a full 6 mg. dose, costs over 100 times more than nandrolone, but it delivered only a little over half as much LBM over 12 weeks. Even low doses of other steroids appear to do as well as or better than Serostim for anabolic activity for much less cost. Note that lean body mass does not necessarily mean muscle, as LBM includes water, bone, connective tissue and organs, and the early results of one HIV study presented in 1999 by Dr. Donald Kotler that used magnetic resonance imaging to analyze changes in tissue growth showed that Serostim GH did not increase muscle growth over 12 weeks.
Product - oral (o) or injectable (i)
reference # Research study author – year Study length
(weeks) Number of patients Exercise included? Dose (mg)., frequency
(every 2 weeks, etc...)
Average wt. gain $/month
Nandrolone (i) 1 Gold ‘96 16 17 Yes 100 mg./2 weeks 6.6 lbs – wt $30
Nandrolone (i) 2 Bucher ‘96 12 73 No 100 mg./week 5 lbs – BCM $60
Testosterone Enanthate (i) 3 Bhasin ‘96 (non-HIV males) 10 43 Yes 600 mg./ week 13.42 lbs – LBM $100
Nandrolone & Testosterone (i) 4 Salvato ‘97 12 20 No Escalating- De-escalating 100-700 mg./wk 13 lbs – wt Average $130
Nandrolone (i) 5 Strawford ’97 2 phases 1rst ph - 3 wks 2nd ph – 12 wks 18 No 1rst ph - 195 mg./wk (3 wks) then 2nd ph - 200 mg. every 2 wks 1rst ph - 5.28 lbs LBM + 2nd - 6.6 lbs =
11.88 lbs LBM
Average $90
Winstrol (o) 6 Berger ‘93 10 1 No 6 mg./day 10. lbs - wt $72
Winstrol (o) 6 Berger ‘93 4 1 No 6 mg./day 3.5 lbs – wt $72
Oxandrin (o) 7 Poles ‘97 8 21 No 20 mg/day 6.9 lbs - wt $900
Serostim hGH 8 Schambelan ‘96 12 178 No 6 mg/day 6.6 lbs - LBM $6000+
Some studies report only total weight, not lean body mass (LBM) or body cell mass (BCM). Given this, we have presented the limited available data. Note: BCM is the metabolically active tissue that includes muscle and organs like the liver, etc. LBM includes BCM, connective tissue, water and bone. Total weight includes LBM and fat.
References
Gold, J, et al. Safety and efficacy of nandrolone decanoate for treatment of wasting in patients with HIV infection. AIDS (1996) 10(7):745-52
Bucher, G, et al. A prospective study on the safety and effect of nandrolone decanoate in HIV-positive patients. Int Conf AIDS (1996) 11(1):26. Abstract No. Mo.B.423.
Bhasin, S, et al. The effect of supraphysiological doses of testosterone on muscle size and strength in normal men. N Engl J Med (1996) Jul 4; 335(1):1-7.
Salvato, P et al. Abstract # 0-003, Conference on Nutrition and HIV Infection, Cannes, France, April 23-24, 1997.
Strawford, A, et al. Effects of nandrolone decanoate (ND) on nitrogen balance, metabolism, body composition and function in men with AIDS wasting syndrome (AWS). 2nd International Conf Nutri & HIV Inf Cannes, France (1997) p.267.
Berger, JR, et al. Effect of anabolic steroids on HIV-related wasting myopathy. So Med J (1993) Aug; 86(8):865-866.
Poles, MA, et al. Oxandrolone as a treatment for AIDS-related weight loss and wasting. 4th Conf Retro and Opportun Infect. (1997) Jan 22-26:193 (Abstract No. 695).
Schambelan, M, et al. Recombinant human growth hormone in patients with HIV-associated wasting. Ann Intern Med (1996) 125(11):873-882.
