17-AA oral steroids are not toxic to your liver

[motoxxxguy]

I copied this post from FContact at AnaFreakz. For a while I have felt that 17-AA steroids , or any 17-AA orally-available drug for that matter, is not hepatoxic in any reasonable dose. This means that 4-5 weeks is not hte max amount of time one can safely run one of these drugs without "needing a liver transplant."

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Hepatoxicty: Fact or Fiction
by Roy Harper

We all know that the alpha alkylated steroids are hepatotoxic, right….. But, is there actually any truth to this? We’ve been told for years that if you take 17 alpha-alkylated steroids, you will eventually run into liver problems. Never combine 17 aa’s, never go beyond 50mg day, never go longer than 4 weeks, etc. All of this is crap! As I we walk you through some studies, today, you’ll see 17 alpha-alkylated steroids can be hepatotoxic but not to the degree you would think.

To make a steroid hepatotoxic, you need only a small change to a steroid molecule; A strong bond that cannot readily be down broken by enzymes in the liver. This may be a bond at the 17th position, or even at the 1st position (as in methenolone or proviron ). Because the liver cannot easily break the steroid down before it is released in to the blood stream, this also results in the steroid to becoming more orally bio-available.

We can see that the liver has to work harder to break down these steroids. Enzymes in the blood and tissue easily metabolize other steroids such as Testosterone . Commonly, this increase in liver activity has been viewed as a harmful process, but as you will see, this increase is, in and of itself, irrelevant. The liver is THE filter of the human body -- it can figure out what to do with just about anything. The only real problem comes in when one keeps their liver at full blast for long periods of time.

Let’s look at some studies showing the hepatotoxicity of steroids. Here's one of my favorites, a study published in 1979[1]. Essentially, researches did a study of deaths caused by hepatic angiosarcoma (a malignant tumor of vascular tissue in the liver) between 1964 and 1974. Researchers found 131 reported cases of death from hepatic angiosarcoma. Out of the 131 cases, 3.1% (4 cases) were reported to be at all related to the use of androgenic -anabolic steroids. Keep in mind that these 4 people could have liver complications before any steroids were used, aka a genetic disposition. In fact there is no proof, in this study at least, that the anabolic-androgenic steroids even caused the hepatic angiosarcoma.

This is the classic case of associating a cause with an effect, without any evidence, aside from both existing. Furthermore, based on the above numbers, there are only 0.4 cases of hepatic angiosarcoma reported each year, by those using AAS. Now consider the number of people on steroids at this time. Now factor in all the people that don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to using AAS, properly. Clearly, this is very week evidence. Lastly there has not been a real increase in hepatic angiosarcoma since the early seventies. Meanwhile, there has been a huge, almost exponential, increase in steroid use during this period.

Another study, that somewhat supports the previous hepatotoxicity case, showed the possibilities of hepatic adenomas(cysts in the liver) caused by androgenic-anabolic steroids [2]. In this study, a Japanese girl was found to have multiple liver lesions after the use of the drug oxymetholone (aka Anadrol ). Most everyone “knows” that Anadrol is linked with liver problems, but a closer inspection into this study shows more.

Apparently, this girl, starting at the age of 14, was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. She was prescribed oxymetholone at 30mg per day. This continued for 6 years until the lesions first appeared. Assuming that the girl was most likely around 100 lbs., this was a pretty heavy dosage. If you extrapolated this data out to a 200 - 250lbs. male, that would be taking approximately 60 - 90mg of anadrol per day for 6 years. Ouch!

The researchers also stated that there were only 17 other cases of hepatic adenomas, found in English literature between 1975 and 1998. They failed to mention the causes of these 17 cases, but there is no reason to believe they were all using 17-AA androgens and 17 is certainly miniscule compared to the number of people who have used them. The authors’ finish off the study by saying the following: "This report may be helpful in identifying the population who is at risk of developing hepatic sex hormone-related tumors." So remember, if you're a small 14-year-old girl taking 30mg of Anadrol per day for 6 years, you may be at risk!

Let's move on to some more useful studies. Take for example a 1995 study that showed the toxic effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids in primary rat hepatic cell cultures[3]. In this study the researchers used the following drugs and dosages:

Steroid
*1x10^-8M
**1x10^-6M
***1x10^-4M

19-nortestosterone
0.002744mg*
0.2744mg**
27.44mg***

Fluoxymesterone
0.003365mg*
0.3365mg**
33.65mg***

Testosterone cypionate
0.004126mg*
0.4126mg**
41.26mg***

Stanozolol
0.003285mg*
0.3285mg**
32.85mg***

Danazol
N/A
N/A
N/A

Oxymetholone
0.003325mg*
0.3325mg**
33.25mg***

Testosterone
0.002884mg*
0.2884mg**
28.84mg***

Estradiol
0.0027424mg*
0.2724mg**
27.24mg***

Methyltestosterone
0.003024mg*
0.3024mg**
30.24mg***


As proof of the hepatoxicity they used Lactate dehydrogenase release, neutral red retention, and glutathione depletion to determine plasma membrane damage, cell viability, and possible oxidative injury, respectively.

What they showed was that the 17 alpha-alkylated steroids, methyltestosterone, stanozolol and oxymetholone, significantly increased Lactate dehydrogenase release and decreased neutral red retention at the 1x10^-4M dosage for 24h. Both methyltestosterone and oxymetholone also showed depleted glutathione at the 1x10^-4M dosage after 2h, 6h and 8h treatments. In other words they increased liver activity. You may also note that the other, non-alkylated steroids showed no significant difference in any levels. All in all this not only shows that 17 alpha-alkylated steroids are directly “hepatotoxic”, but also non-alkylated steroids are note hepatotoxic at all. But is this a real measure of hepatotoxicity? There is yet to be any correlation between the increase of the above-mentioned measurement and “hepatotoxicity”. Obviously, high dosages of the 17 alpha-alkylated steroids are potentially dangerous, but upon closer inspection, the study reveals more.

Take a look, the researchers took cell cultures from the liversse of 60-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Not only are rat livers much smaller than human livers, but these were merely cultures. Furthermore, it was the 1x10^-4M concentrations that caused the most changes, but these are approximately 1 to a 1/3 of a full, daily human dosage -- at least for the 17 alpha-alkylated steroids. Even at the 1x10^-6M concentration, there were no significant changes observed. It's apparent that the levels of 17 alpha-alkylated steroids used were potentially toxic, but for a human to take the same amount would be insane. I'm guessing this could translate to maybe 4 grams every 24 hours or 28 grams a week if not more.

What is common so far is we can only prove that any steroid, that is believed to be hepatotoxic, only increases liver activity. I’ll say it again, where is the correlation to hepatotoxicity? We know that if the liver is running at 100% for long periods this may cause complications, but this is akin to any other chemical, which is metabolized by the liver. Ever noticed that liver cancer due to alcoholism takes decades of constant alcohol abuse? It’s apparent that the possibility for hepatotoxicity is there, but for the smart steroid user this is nearly an impossible task.

Another study done in 1999, attempted to show the acute and chronic effects of stanozolol on the liver[4]. In acute treatments of stanozolol, dosages not mentioned, both cytochrome P456 and b5 (microsomal enzymes) levels dropped after 48 hours, and then at 72 hours, levels significant increased. On the other hand, with chronic treatments, time or dosage not mentioned, these microsomal enzymes showed a decrease in levels. Researchers showed that both acute and chronic treatments resulted in "slight to moderate inflammatory or degenerative lesions in centrilobular hepatocytes", but the authors did not note true hepatotoxicity.

How about we look at the other side of the story, the good studies. For instance, in a 1999 study, which looked at the effects of an 8-week cycle of 17 alpha-alkylated steroids[5]. The researchers used fluoxymesterone, methylandrostanolone, or stanozolol on rats at 2mg/kg-body weight, five times a week for 8 weeks. That's 182mg per dosage, for a 200lb man, or 910mg per week. Half of the rats were sedentary and the other were trained on a treadmill.

Levels of NADH-cytochrome c reductase, succinate cytochrome c reductase, and cytochrome oxidase (showing liver activity), increased in the steroid-administered rats, while citrate synthase showed no change. Comparatively, in vitro, the "cytochrome oxidase and citrate synthase activities were insensitive to the AAS, whereas NADH-cytochrome c reductase and succinate cytochrome c reductase activities were partly inhibited."

Furthermore, in vivo, each rat had liver enzyme levels that were within normal range. From this, the researchers determined that the steroid-administered rats, trained or sedentary, did not show "...classical serum indicators of hepatic function". Extrapolating this, 910mg a week for 8 weeks could potentially have little to no effect on the liver in humans.

As for human studies, in 1999 researchers tried to prove that the hepatotoxicity of steroids is overstated[6]. In this study, 15 of the participants were bodybuilders using self-administered steroid dosages and 10 were non-steroid bodybuilders. Serum data was compared to 49 patients with viral hepatitis, and 592 exercising and non-exercising medical students. [

All of the bodybuilders showed increases in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatine kinase (CK) while gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) levels were in the normal range. In comparison, hepatitis patients showed increased ALT, AST, and GGT levels while the control exercising medical students showed increased CK levels. From this, the researchers suggested that it is the correlation between AST, ALT and GGT that shows true liver dysfunction. Keep in mind, we can only guess that the 15 steroid users were using 17 alpha-alkylated steroids, and we do not know what the dosages that were used., but common sense tells us the results are likely relevant.

Last but not least, a simple study done in 1996, showed the long term benefits after taking a 3 month break from steroids[7]. 16 bodybuilders using steroids were compared to 12 bodybuilders that were not. After a three-month drug withdrawal, the researchers showed that levels of liver enzymes, types not mentioned, returned to the same as the non users. Again the dosages are left to the reader’s imagination and we can only guess that the 16 steroid users were using 17 alpha-alkylated steroids.

So what can we conclude from all of this? First off, 17 alpha-alkylated steroids are hepatotoxic in high dosages taken for a long time. On the other hand, short cycles and small dosages appear to be perfectly safe. I suggest that maximum dosages should be 500mg to 900mg per day. They should be cycled for perhaps 8 weeks at a time, and if needed a 3-month break from them should be used. Using the above-mentioned techniques, your liver can be healthy for a long time. Simply put, the hysteria surrounding “hepatoxic” steroids, is based mainly on folk lore.


References:

[1] Lancet 1979 Nov 24;2(8152):1120-3, Hepatic angiosarcoma associated with androgenic-anabolic steroids. Falk H, Thomas LB, Popper H, Ishak KG.

[2] J Gastroenterol 2000;35(7):557-62, Multiple hepatic adenomas caused by long-term administration of androgenic steroids for aplastic anemia in association with familial adenomatous polyposis. Nakao A, Sakagami K, Nakata Y, Komazawa K, Amimoto T, Nakashima K, Isozaki H, Takakura N, Tanaka N.

[3] J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 1995 Aug;33(4):187-95, Toxic effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids in primary rat hepatic cell cultures. Welder AA, Robertson JW, Melchert RB.

[4] Arch Toxicol 1999 Nov;73(8-9):465-72, Evaluation of acute and chronic hepatotoxic effects exerted by anabolic-androgenic steroid stanozolol in adult male rats. Boada LD, Zumbado M, Torres S, Lopez A, Diaz-Chico BN, Cabrera JJ, Luzardo OP.

[5] Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999 Feb;31(2):243-50, Rat liver lysosomal and mitochondrial activities are modified by anabolic-androgenic steroids. Molano F, Saborido A, Delgado J, Moran M, Megias A.

[6] Clin J Sport Med 1999 Jan;9(1):34-9, Anabolic steroid-induced hepatotoxicity: is it overstated? Dickerman RD, Pertusi RM, Zachariah NY, Dufour DR, McConathy WJ.

[7] Int J Sports Med 1996 Aug;17(6):429-33, Body composition, cardiovascular risk factors and liver function in long-term androgenic-anabolic steroids using bodybuilders three months after drug withdrawal. Hartgens F, Kuipers H, Wijnen JA, Keizer HA.



__________________

-moto

[getnlarg]

Good Info, Moto

[zx7racing]

i wouldnt want to mess with any of those rats.....

[50%Natural]

this is way I have felt for a long time moto. I have never seen any evidence by anyone to show that 17aa are very hepitoxic. I try to get a cycle critiqed by people in the know, and I got some nub telling me not to run var with winny. I didn't read it all, but I am sure by the thread topic it will support my beliefs on 17aa.

[sin]

alright! 200mg/day d-bol here i come, j/k is still wont do that. i think this, like the extreme arguments on either side of the aas debate should be taken with a grain of salt. the liver is an incredible organ with the ability to endure large amounts of abuse, but keeping those steroids that are hard on the liver to reasonable doses just simply reduces the chances of long term consequences. whoever Roy Harper is he did a good analysis of the data but im sure its not the only interpretation, much data related to steroids goes unseen or unpublished because many of the people on aas are not forthcoming about their usage. i dont think that the cycles he talks about in his article would be too hard on the body, but personally i will lean to the safe side, so that i can keep using and stay healthy for years to come.

[motoxxxguy]

Of course, moderation is the key as with anything, but to simply dismiss any use of an oral steroid for more than a few weeks at a time is not warranted.

-moto

[sin]

Of course, moderation is the key as with anything, but to simply dismiss any use of an oral steroid for more than a few weeks at a time is not warranted.

-moto

i totally agree with you moto. im sure i will use orals again and again, but i have little doubt that some choda will use this info as a the basis to an argument to do ridiculous amount of substances that have the potential to be hard on the body.

[motoxxxguy]

I don't doubt that either, but those people would probably do those doses regardless. A lot of people out there are not bright. You wouldn't want to do a ridiculous dose of anything, but it is the fact that the duration of use has little effect on your liver. You wouldn't use 500mg of prop ed for any time, but you wouldn't have a problem using 100mg ed for an extended period of time. That's the arguement here.

-moto

[sin]

yeah, but in his closing statements he also said its safe to do 500-900mg a day of 17 alpha-alkylated steroids for eight weeks at a time, but he doesnt explain what substances would be safe. i can just see the kid who is trying to swallow 100 d-bol every day.

[motoxxxguy]

****, I read right past that part! That's not smart. Kinda discredits the whole article somewhat.

-moto

[sin]

yeah, could be a typo, if you divide those doses by ten it wouldnt be too far out of hand.

[hckyplyr]

Does this mean I can run dbol at a reasonable dose of 20-30mg ED while on my accutane with no problems?

[Da Bull]

I'm on 60mg dbol right now in third wk,using milk thislte and lots of water and cranberry extract.I feel fine.1 more week won't kill me.

But nice post bro

[einstein1905]

yeah, but in his closing statements he also said its safe to do 500-900mg a day of 17 alpha-alkylated steroids for eight weeks at a time, but he doesnt explain what substances would be safe. i can just see the kid who is trying to swallow 100 d-bol every day.

Yeah, the 500-900mg/day recommended dosages caught my eye too. Those 17aa users that get liver function tests b4 during and after tell the story best....the dosages most use and suggest on the boards here (except BDTR ) MAY raise liver function test values slightly, but they return to normal(precycle) shortly after discontinuing. This doesn't mean that liver values WILL even become elevated.
I don't like Mr. Harper's failing to link cause and effect though. I think that overpermeablization of cell membranes and hepatic leasions CAN be concluded to be signs of hepatotoxicity...they are causing liver damage. However, this doesn't mean this slight damage will have any noticeable effect on the liver's functions. He'd be better served admitting the slight hepatotoxicity that is evident and then stressing the negligible, if at all existent, adverse effects on the liver's functions.

[nostawk]

I agree that the whole hepatoxicity thing is overstated but how can the author say "I suggest that maximum dosages should be 500mg to 900mg per day. They should be cycled for perhaps 8 weeks at a time, and if needed a 3-month break from them should be used. Using the above-mentioned techniques, your liver can be healthy for a long time". That seems ****ing crazy I mean what orals could you take at those levels? The sides excluding liver related would have to be unbearable................Also he mentions nothing about the fact that not all orals are the same potency. Doses with something like methyl trenbolone are in mcg. and you can't compare that with anadrol .

[Lord]

100 dbol at a time, Thats a breakfast for champions! anyone thats want to be a lab rat for a while? j/k

[RON]

All I'll say is that at 75mg ed of dbol for only 4 weeks my liver aches. And its not from back pumps there is a difference. Plus I can relieve the pain from drinking a **** load of cranberry juice.

[nevaenuf]

Hey moto, there is a very interesting thread in our educational forum about this same thing. You might want to look it up.

[sin]

Yeah, the 500-900mg/day recommended dosages caught my eye too. Those 17aa users that get liver function tests b4 during and after tell the story best....the dosages most use and suggest on the boards here (except BDTR ) MAY raise liver function test values slightly, but they return to normal(precycle) shortly after discontinuing. This doesn't mean that liver values WILL even become elevated.
I don't like Mr. Harper's failing to link cause and effect though. I think that overpermeablization of cell membranes and hepatic leasions CAN be concluded to be signs of hepatotoxicity...they are causing liver damage. However, this doesn't mean this slight damage will have any noticeable effect on the liver's functions. He'd be better served admitting the slight hepatotoxicity that is evident and then stressing the negligible, if at all existent, adverse effects on the liver's functions.

good call einstein, i was hoping you would get in on this thread.

[nevaenuf]

Bump back up to the top for everybody who missed it

[LebaneseMuscle]

bump.

[iron4life79]

gee,
so when i get the cramps, and yellow skin, and the killer calf pumps that make me not want to walk, i can keep going?

this is great news, i think i'll up my dose..........

peace I4L

[LightWeightBaby]

i do not go over 4 wewkes because i get bloody stool so obviously it must be doing some damage

[motoxxxguy]

If you don't realize that moderation is the key, then you should probably not be reading this article, or using AAS for that matter.

As for elevated liver values, I've seen tests where liver values were elevated by heavy weight training alone. The use of 17-aa steroids is asociated with heavy weight training (hopefully), so who is to say that the steroids are the primary cause of these elevations? And are these elevations a sign of liver damage, or just increased liver productivity?

-moto

[motoxxxguy]

i do not go over 4 wewkes because i get bloody stool so obviously it must be doing some damage

Ulceration of your stomach lining maybe, but your liver is not bleeding. That's the topic of discussion here!

-moto

[LightWeightBaby]

Ulceration of your stomach lining maybe, but your liver is not bleeding. That's the topic of discussion here!

-moto

Stop it moto you know i love when u yell at me haha, I was just stating my input bc people were posting that they would take oral for longer and the fact is if this is true that it is not toxic to liver orals for a longer period of time can still be bad for you in other ways.

[Teamupjohn]

I agree with moto.. the key to the game is MODERATION.. be smart.. if ya abuse you can lose!!

there's no I in TEAM....

teamupjohn

[einstein1905]

I agree with moto.. the key to the game is MODERATION.. be smart.. if ya abuse you can lose!!

there's no I in TEAM....

teamupjohn

You sound like Mr T giving one of his little motivational speeches at the end of his Saturday morning cartoon back in the days.

Back to the issue. I won't argue that 17aa's don't cause liver damage, however slight it may be. The tests used to show this are very good indicators of cell damage. This may also be due, in part, to excercise, as mentioned above. However, the liver is an amazing regenerative organ, and this slight damage doesn't give any indication that its capacity to function is reduced in any way.