Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate) Explained

Clomid is a selective estrogen receptor modulator similar to Tamoxifen. Clomid is typically used to induce ovulation in females by blocking estrogen in selective tissue in the body. Clomid opposes the negative feedback of estrogens on the Hypothalamic Pituitary Ovarian Axis which enhances the release of LH and FSH. Some women report a reduction in female pattern fat deposits when employing a selective estrogen receptor modulator during an anabolic androgenic steroid cycle but typically Nolvadex would be preferred for this purpose over Clomid.

I consider Clomid the recovery drug and would never go into post cycle therapy without it. In men, the effects of Clomid are much more pronounced than women as an increase in FSH and LH will cause a rise in natural Testosterone. After just 7 days of Clomiphene citrate administration (100mg daily), mean serum total T and non-SHBG-bound levels in young men increased by a whopping 100% and 304%, respectively, while in older men these values increased by only 32% and 8%, Similar to previous observations, LH and FSH levels showed a significant elevation in response to Clomiphene citrate over the response to placebo.

Clomid is a very useful compound at the end of an anabolic steroid cycle because Testosterone quickly falls below baseline levels when anabolic steroids are withdrawn. This decline in Testosterone then allows the effects of cortisol to wreak havoc on our new muscle. We quickly go from an anabolic to a catabolic state. Thankfully this crash can be mitigated with Clomid. Clomiphene restores normal testosterone levels and improves sperm motility in most male patients. Clomid may be used on cycle to block the effects of estrogen in male breast tissue therefore reducing the likelihood of gynecomastia however Nolvadex seems the preferred medicine for this purpose. Additionally, Clomid supports improved cardiovascular values.

So how do we maximize the benefits of this recovery medicine? First we need to determine the clearance time of the aas being used. In other words, how long will it take for the anabolic steroid to reach baseline Testosterone levels? Most  anabolic steroids have a published duration in which they are no longer elevating Testosterone above natural levels but this is only an estimate as cycle duration, scar tissue and many multiple depots may extend release times of the aas administered when using injectable compounds. Once it’s determined when to employ Clomid, therapy should be about 4-6 weeks in duration. I like to start with a dose of 50-100mg’s daily for 3 weeks and then reduce that dose to 50mg daily the remainder of the therapy. I recommend getting labs after Clomid therapy to determine if recovery was successful. If not, another Clomid course may be needed.

Clomid users have reported various side effects like dizziness, vision problems, emotional swings and nausea. I personally have had mild vision issues while on Clomid but they went away when I stopped using the medicine. Overall Clomid is a relatively safe compound and in my estimation an absolute necessity for proper recovery.

Anabolic Steroids for Beauty

The potential benefits for an athlete, whether professional or amateur, are well known. Of course, these users have to consider the negative aspects of this usage; the damaging health effects, the illegality, the immorality, and if caught, the loss of prestige, of reputation, and possibly also a decent sized paycheck. Another common group of users of anabolic steroids are those taking them to achieve the effects for vanity reasons.

In our modern society, there is increasing pressure to the meet that high standards the media present to us with regard to physique, and the ideality of sexual attractiveness, the need for perfection. This compels us to meet this requirement, another version of the sports world mantra to win at any cost. Here, the door opens for anabolic steroid usage.

In 2006, researchers conducted an anonymous study through anabolic steroids use forums, whereupon they discovered that 78.4% of users were non-competitive athletes or body builders. This shocking figure leads to the question of why these users feel the need to push so hard. They want to bulk up, to become more attractive. Many users of anabolic steroids that do so for vanity purposes are reported to have a poor image of themselves. In fact, many vanity driven anabolic steroid users share the same acute misconceptions with regard to their bodies as those who suffer from anorexia or bulimia; it is in fact a symptom of a mental disorder. These users are also likely to have an addiction to anabolic steroids.

There are many myths and rumors surrounding addiction in association with anabolic steroids. It is widely accepted that there are two forms of addicition: mental, whereby the mind tells the body of the need, and physical, where the body becomes reliant on a chemical compound. Addiction can also be affected by the concepts of nature, an innate (perhaps hereditary) requirement, or nurture, a learned need. Herein lies the problem in anabolic steroid abuse. An individual commences use of the performance enhancer for one reason, yet continually uses the drug for a unknowing different reason. First time users, particularly those taking the substance for vanity purposes, insist to themselves that they will only do one cycle of anabolic steroids to kick start their routine of continuous physical improvement. An addictive high may result from the increased self-esteem, the commendation from others, the interest from the opposite sex, and so forth. The changes, both physically and in self-image, are gratifying, and lead to the want of more.

Users who take anabolic steroids for vanity are headed for just as much trouble as the pro footballer, but likely in a different way. As far as the law in concerned, you are just as much at fault. You are still taking the very serious risks with your health. And you are cheating yourself to that idealistic (and likely disproportionate) image of how you want your body to look. It is not only men who can fall prey to the appeal of improving physical aesthetics in this way. In the same way that men aim to increase their masculinity (an obvious effect of taking a testosterone based substance), women have been known to take it to increase their femininity by defining their curves and muscle lines.

Lonely men have higher testosterone levels

Men who socialise more produce less testosterone than men who live an isolated existence. It’s possible to deduce this from an animal study that researchers at the University of Padova in Italy.

Social environment determines to a large extent the amount of Testosterone that men produce. Athletes, for example, produce more testosterone when they win a competition – especially if it’s a home meeting. Even just thinking about previous conquests can boost athletes’ testosterone levels. That’s why biologists sometimes refer to testosterone as ‘the winners’ hormone’.

According to the Italians, this view of matters is not entirely correct. They measured the hormone levels in the blood of two groups of mice. One group had lived from birth in a cage with five other mice; the other group lived in individual cages.

When, after two and six months, the researchers measured the amount of testosterone and DHEA circulating in the mice’s bodies, they observed on both occasions that the mice living in isolation manufactured three times as much testosterone. The DHEA concentration was also higher in the isolated animals. So testosterone is not just the ‘winners’ hormone’ but also the ‘hormone of the lonely’.

The researchers suspect that living in groups is stressful for animals, and that this causes their testosterone level to decrease.

Before the advent of synthetic testosterone it was not unusual for athletes, strongmen and gladiators to live in relative isolation, devoting themselves to their sport or discipline away from society. Perhaps the Italian study helps understand why this was so.

Anabolic Steroids, High Blood Pressure, and the Kidneys

When discussing anabolic steroid use and its known side effects, it is not uncommon to see bodybuilders express concern over potential liver injury or other cardiovascular health issues. However, we are now starting to see a much larger contingent of our community suffering from an equally serious, although less frequently recognized side effect in kidney disease/failure. This is a fairly recent phenomenon, which started in earnest about 10-15 years ago. Although there were certainly documented cases of kidney disease/failure prior to this, they were not nearly as prevalent as they are today. Although there are many potential causes of kidney failure, in this article we are going to limit ourselves to those most often attributed to the bodybulding lifestyle.

Unfortunately, there is no single cause associated with kidney failure in bodybulders. Often, it is an accumulative effect brought on by the presence of multiple stressors affecting the body at one time, but before we can pinpoint these causes, we must first understand how anabolic steroids affect the body, as well as possess a basic understanding of how the kidneys work to protect the body from toxins.

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs which sit below the ribcage; one on each side of the spine. Their primary job is to filter the blood of toxins, which they do at a rate of roughly 120-150 quarts of blood per day. From this, they produce about 1-2 quarts of urine, which is then transported from the kidneys to the bladder for disposal.

The kidneys do not work as single, large filtering mechanism. Rather, each one contains about 1 million tiny filtering units called nephrons, which work to purify the blood at a microscopic level. Each of these nephrons contains a tubule, as well as its own filter (called a glomerulus). Just as the digestive system works in a multi-step process to break down food for absorption, nephrons also work through 2–step process to filter the blood. As blood moves through the glomerulus, it allows fluid and waste products to pass through it, while preventing large molecules, such as blood cells and proteins, from doing so. Afterward, this pre-filtered fluid is then sent through the tubules, which further refines the blood by separating toxins from beneficial substances, such as minerals. Ultimately, everything useful is sent back into circulation, while the final concentrated waste product becomes urine.

Let’s pause there for a second and transfer our attention over to a common side effect associated with AAS use - high blood pressure. Anabolic steroids have been thought to increase blood pressure through a variety of possible mechanisms, but it is their sodium retaining properties which are the primary cause of high blood pressure in most users. When anabolic steroids are administered they inhibit an enzyme known as 11-beta hydroxylase, which leads to the increased production of deoxycorticosterone and the subsequent retention of sodium and water. While AAS can vary substantially in their ability to influence this enzyme, as a general rule, the higher the dose employed, the more this enzyme is inhibited. Therefore, high dose users are more likely to experience elevated blood pressure compared to low-dose users.

High blood pressure is frequently implicated as a risk factor in cardiovascular disease and rightly so, but what about its effect on renal (kidney) function? Unfortunately, high blood pressure is a direct cause of renal stress and a leading contributor in the development of kidney failure. In fact, high blood pressure is the №2 cause of kidney failure in the United States right behind diabetes, being responsible for a full 28+% of documented cases and this number has only continued to grow over the last decade. With high blood pressure being one of the most common side effects associated with AAS use, one might think that it would garner more attention among the drug using community, but sadly, it does not.

When blood pressure is high, blood vessels stretch so that blood can flow more easily. This chronic stretching eventually weakens and scars the blood vessels of the kidneys, damaging them and impairing their ability to work properly. Once damaged, they become inefficient at waste and fluid removal. On top of the resulting toxin build-up, the inability to remove excess fluid can elevate blood pressure even more, resulting in a dangerous cycle.

Although anabolic steroid use alone is a potentially significant contributor to kidney disease/failure, as mentioned above, there are usually multiple causes involved in its development. Another potential risk factor is the use of nephrotoxic agents, such as NSAID’s. With anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen being routinely implicated in the development of kidney disease/failure and with many bodybuilders regularly using these drugs to treat various aches and pains, this risk factor should not be ignored. For anabolic steroids steroid using bodybuilders, the over-use of NSAID’s may be all it takes to enter stage 1 kidney failure, followed by entrance into the later stages if not addressed. Therefore, nephrotoxic drugs should be used sparingly and only as needed. In cases of chronic pain and inflammation, one should seek speak with their physician regarding alternative treatments.

Steroids used in Sports!

Anabolic steroids (AS) are a group of synthetic hormones, usually derived from testosterone. They are consumed as they aid in protein synthesis, muscle mass, strength, appetite and bone growth.

Steroids used in sports are usually anabolic in nature. Ideally, anabolic steroids are drugs that closely resemble androgenic hormones and are synthetically derived from the male hormones called the testosterone. The widespread use of anabolic steroids among athletes is precisely to achieve strength, weight gain, speed, endurance against pain and fatigue, and aggressiveness. They are most commonly used by athletes involved in track and field sports, particularly the throwing events, weight lifting, football and baseball. Despite their prolific usage by the sports fraternity, the research literature still reveals debate on whether anabolic steroids can really enhance one’s performance or not. However, almost all athletes who have administered these substances have affirmed to the benefits caused by these. In fact many athletes have also asserted that they would not have been as successful without consuming them.

Some common steroids employed by the sports fraternity include:

• Primobolan (Methenolone) - Primobolan can be administered in the body by either injecting it or consuming it in a tablet form. This steroid is highly popular among athletes because it builds muscle power without adding to its bulk. Also this steroid does not have many negative side effects like other ones and hence remains high in demand.
• Clenbuterol - Clenbuterol or Clen as it is popularly called is a selective beta-2 antagonist and a bronchodilator which is also medically prescribed for obstructive pulmonary diseases at times. Amongst athletes, it basic function lies in increasing lean muscle mass but it should be administered only in small qualities.
• Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) - Dehydroepiandrosterone is a steroid prohormone which is naturally produced by the adrenal glands. After its synthesis the body converts the DHEA into both male and female sex hormones i.e. estrogen and testosterone respectively. DHEA are extremely popular because they are considered to be anti-aging supplements. However research on its this very property is still going on. DHEA supplements were taken off the shelves of U.S. markets in 1985 and were made available only by prescription then. However, in 1994, it was reintroduced as a nutritional supplement after the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act was passed.

Though not all anabolic steroids pose as a threat to the athletes, some of them have been banned by a few sport’s organization which include the Olympics, NBA, NHL and NFL.

However, a few other steroids which find popular use among the athletes include oral ones like Anadrol (oxymetholone), Oxandrin (oxandrolone), Dianabol (methandrostenolone) and Winstrol (stanozolol). The injectable steroids include Deca-Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate), Durabolin (nandrolone phenpropionate), Depo-Testosterone (testosterone cypionate) and Equipoise (boldenone undecylenate).

Smart Bodybuilding Nutrition

There is so much confusing and contradictory information out there about healthy eating.  I will try to summarize what I have learned as a bodybuilder who wants to stay healthy as I age.  The choices of foods that we can now can have a significant effect not only on our body shape and quality of life, but also  mortality and on how well we age.

The components of whole food.
Foods are made up of many different components—some are “micro” or smaller quantity nutrients, like vitamins, and some are “macro” or larger quantity nutrients. The three macro groups that compose the majority of our diets are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. These three units are the basic materials that fuel our activities and metabolism and maintain body composition. Selecting the best sources and amounts of these three macronutrients may help to minimize metabolic disorders (such as high cholesterol and blood sugar) and prevent loss of lean body mass and accumulation of body fat.)

The best carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates provide our body’s main source of quick energy. After carbohydrates are digested and after some processing by the liver, they are released into the bloodstream as a sugar called glucose to be delivered to the cells.

Insulin and insulin resistance.
The hormone insulin is produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar and store it in muscles for later use as glycogen. Insulin’s main job in the body is to promote the delivery of sugar energy as glucose to cells. When a small amount of glucose is delivered into the bloodstream, a small amount of insulin is produced by the pancreas to accompany it. When there is a large amount of glucose, the pancreas works to produce a large amount of insulin to facilitate its delivery so that cells can take in as much glucose as possible. Extra glucose that cannot be taken in by the cells circulates in the bloodstream and can be toxic to brain cells, so under normal circumstances, most of it is soon converted into triglycerides (fat) in the liver to be stored for later use. But we have to be careful with high blood levels of triglycerides, since they are what feed fat cells.
The correct amount of carbohydrate sources will provide enough sugar to give a healthy amount of glucose to the cells, but not too much at once. Thus, levels of glucose and insulin in the bloodstream are not unusually elevated for any long period of time. The pancreas works, but it is not overworked trying to keep up with an unusual demand for insulin.  However, in the U.S., much of the diet consists not only of large amounts of high-calorie carbohydrate sources, but also of carbohydrates from sweets and sodas, which are very concentrated sources of sugar. The net effect that intake of these calorie-dense carbohydrate foods creates is a bloodstream that is occasionally flooded with large amounts of glucose, a pancreas that is overworked, and large amounts of insulin and triglycerides circulating in the bloodstream. Note that excess insulin causes increased production of cholesterol.

Over time, these occasional glucose, triglyceride, and insulin floods can cause a decrease in the sensitivity of the cells’ response to insulin, which reduces the cells’ ability to take in glucose. Insensitivity to insulin is called insulin resistance, and it is a serious consideration in metabolic problems. Some HIV medications can worsen insulin resistance, so we need to be aware of nutritional considerations that can help. Ways to decrease insulin resistance are to exercise, follow a proper diet, and taking medications that improve insulin response. For instance, several studies have found that people consuming an overall high-quality diet, rich in fiber and adequate in energy and protein, were less likely to gain fat. This is why it is best to select the majority of your carbohydrate intake from fiber-rich, slow-releasing carbohydrate sources that do not contain an excessive amount of calories. And these good carbs should be accompanied by good sources of protein and fats.

Combining carbohydrates with protein, fiber, and fat.
Protein, fiber, or fat will slow the absorption into the blood of glucose from carbohydrates, which helps to reduce the rise in blood sugar and insulin spikes. So, mixing carbohydrates with protein, fiber, and good fats is one way to reduce their problematic effect on blood sugar and insulin. Ensure that every meal and snack you consume has a mix of these three macronutrients. But what are the best fats, protein, and high-fiber carbohydrates sources out there?

Fats and oils.
The main point is that since we need EFAs and other fats for health, we should be getting them in our diets from fresh, high-quality sources. A proper diet reduces the amount of starchy carbohydrates while maintaining a certain amount of healthy fats so that there is a different macronutrient balance than the old high-carbohydrate, high-protein, low-fat diets contained. This means striving to get fatty acids from several sources, the least of which are the saturated fats in butter or animal fat. Understand that saturated fats are not the demons we have been led to believe. When we realize that we evolved getting a certain amount of saturated fat from foods in the wild, it is only logical that they would have a place in a healthy diet. One recent study showed that dietary saturated fat and mono-unsaturated fat were associated with healthy testosterone production in humans, while EFAs had no effect. So it appears that we need a little saturated fat for optimal hormonal health. However, most people get far too much saturated fat, which promotes insulin resistance and metabolic problems, and not enough EFAs, which are needed for healthy cells and immune function.
The other important kind of fat that we should consciously include in our daily diet is mono-unsaturated fat, which we get from foods like olive oil. Recent data have shown that mono-unsaturated fats decrease the risk of certain cancers, and have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Fatty acid recommendations.
EFAs include the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Most people get an imbalance of these two by consuming too small an amount of omega-3 fats, which have anti-inflammatory properties, and relatively too large an amount of omega-6 fats, which tend to promote inflammation when out of balance. To get more omega-3s, eat more fish, including salmon, tuna, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, rainbow trout, and herring. Omega-6s are contained in common vegetable oils, like sunflower, safflower, and corn oils. Try to reduce your intake of these.

Oils and cooking.
Olive oil is one of the best oils to cook with. For sauteing that exposes oil to high temperatures, you can also cook with high-oleic sunflower oil, avocado, canola, macadamia, or any oil that is high in mono-unsaturated fatty acids.
Avoid cooking with oils made from corn and sesame. These oils contain more omega-6 fats, and less mono-unsaturated fats, so they have a higher potential for spoiling and turning to trans-fats, which are bad for the immune system. Try to avoid any intake of these oils when they are not absolutely fresh.
Also, choose oils that are minimally processed. Most of the clear oils in supermarkets are stripped of some of their natural components to make them more suitable for sitting on store shelves for long periods of time without spoiling. Do not use these stripped oils. When you do cook, do not overheat the oil so that it smokes, which causes the formation of carcinogens and destroys the beneficial fatty acids.

Avoid margarine, hydrogenated fats, or processed oils.
Do your best to avoid processed fats or oils, as they have negative effects on cellular health, overall metabolism, and your immune system. Look out for the words hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated. These kinds of manipulated fats probably do increase the risk of cancer and heart disease. They also weaken healthy cellular immune metabolism. Lastly, they are also likely to promote high lipid levels and insulin resistance.

Protein, food for the immune system.
Dairy protein fractions, such as caseine (contained in milk curd) and whey, are at the top of the list of proteins that optimally feed lean body mass growth. In dairy products, the amino acid balances, insulin-raising potential, and overall growth factor content add up to one thing: milk proteins were created to make mammals grow bigger. While there is a lot of hoopla related to which dairy protein fractions are best, there is more misinformation than reality in this area. Those with lactose intolerance should be careful in their selection of milk-based products. Aged cheeses and yogurt may be more tolerable for those who cannot digest lactose.

Benefits of Dianabol - Methandrostenolone advantages

Methandrostenolone (also known as Dbol and Dianabol) is one of the best anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs when it comes to improving mood, self-esteem, appetite, and self-confidence enhancements and normalizing effect on all functions of the body. Use of this anabolic steroid is also associated with nearly permanent glycogenolysis, nitrogen storage, protein synthesis, muscle mass, muscle function, and body strength gains.

Categorized as a Schedule III drug under the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990, Methandrostenolone is medically recommended to people suffering with osteoporosis and health complications requiring improved protein synthesis. It is routinely prescribed by medical practitioners for treating health conditions like chronic adrenocortical insufficiency, thyrotoxicosis, interstitial-pituitary insufficiency, diabetic angiopathies (retinopathy and nephropathy), steroidal diabetes, and pituitary dwarfism.

Dianabol has a profound effect on protein metabolism and promotes well being by facilitating positive nitrogen balance besides promoting physical and mental state and improving sleep patterns. This steroid is commonly part a part of a long bulking cycle and multiple doses of it are required to be taken throughout the day because of its short active life. The recommended dose of Methandrostenolone is 25-50 mg per day when taken orally and 50-150 mg per week when taken in an injectable form and it is commonly stacked with testosterone enanthate, Nandrolone, Anadrol, Proviron, testosterone propionate, Trenbolone acetate, and testosterone cypionate. This anabolic steroid is not advised to people suffering from health problems like testicular atrophy, testicular cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, liver damage, kidney damage, stroke, high blood pressure, and respiratory problems.

Research suggests - puberty delayed by stress

The development of genital organs of the carp can get delayed to a significant extent when subjected to stress, as per a NWO research at Utrecht University. The stress hormone, cortisol, plays a critical role in delaying puberty, according to this research.

It was assumed by the researchers that the hormone, cortisol, is behind puberty delays.

Cortisol would seem to affect the testes. It directly delays the development of reproductive cells into sperm cells. This slows the growth of the sexual organs and also the supply of steroids to the blood. During puberty, anabolic steroids from the testes ensure that the brain, the pituitary gland and testes develop properly. Because the cortisol produced under stress reduces the supply of steroids, communication to the brain and the pituitary (a gland under the brain) is reduced. This means that, like the testes, these organs develop more slowly, thus slowing down overall development.

The whole complex of hormones involved in puberty is self-regulatory. The brain produces the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which stimulates cells in the pituitary. On order, the pituitary then excretes the gonadotropins, the luteinising hormone and the hormone which stimulates the follicles. In the testes, the gonadotropins promote the production of reproductive cells and steroid hormones. The steroid hormones contribute to the production of the reproductive cells and ensure communication between the brain and the pituitary gland, thus completing the cycle.

The finding is believed to have critical implications for medical practitioners on a worldwide basis.

Letrozole by QD Labs - exceptional estrogen reducer

Letrozole is considered to be one of the most widely used estrogen reducers in today’s steroid market. This is because it can offer greater benefits than Nolvadex or Proviron when it comes to reducing or eliminating estrogen levels. This drug is also used by members of the medical fraternity for handling cases of infertility for ovulation induction. In addition to that, it is also hailed as an exceptional product when it comes to reversing the spread and extent of breast cancer after treatment options such as Tamoxifen therapy have failed to deliver any results.

Femara is chemically described as 4,4′-(1H-1,2,4Triazol-1-ylmethylene)dibenzonitrile and has the molecular weight of 285.31 g/mol. The inactive ingredients of Femara tablets are colloidal silicon dioxide, ferric oxide, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, odium starch glycolate, talc, and titanium dioxide.

Letrozole and Bodybuilding

Letrozole can reduce the levels of estrogens in bodybuilders and others by as much as 98 percent, which is more than what Proviron and Nolvadex can offer. Furthermore, it facilitates improvements in the levels of luteinizing hormone, sex hormone-binding globulin, and follicle-stimulating hormone to a great extent. This means that bodybuilders on anabolic steroids do not need to worry about water retention, acne, or gynecomastia. In short, this miracle drug is best for both bulking and cutting cycles that involve harsh androgens.
Recommended dose of Letrozole

The recommended dose of Letrozole is 2.5 mg per day, with or without meals.

It is important to note that Letrozole tablets are required to be kept at a controlled temperature of 25°C (77°F) with excursions permitted up to 15-30°C (59-86°F).

Anabolic Steroids in the Treatment of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease in which the bone mass is low and the bone tissue is degenerating.  Over time, the bone becomes more and more fragile and gains an increased tendency to fracture.  It is one of the most common bone diseases in the US, with more than 25 million people affected.

Every year, osteoporosis is responsible for causing 1.3 million fractures in various parts of the patients’ body like spine, hip, and wrist.  The most serious of these is hip fracture.  About 5 to 20% of osteoporosis patients with hip fracture die within a year, and 50% others become incapacitated.

The term osteoporosis means “porous bones.”  The skeleton is made up of a thick outer covering and a strong inner lattice comprised mainly of collagen, calcium, and other minerals.  This inner lattice looks somewhat like a honeycomb.  The spaces between them are filled with blood vessels and bone marrow.

When these spaces become bigger, osteoporosis occurs.  Bigger spaces between the bones cause the bones to be fragile and to break easily.  Osteoporosis is a condition affecting the whole skeleton, although the most common effects are fractures in the hip, spine, and hip.

The elderly face greater risk of developing osteoporosis, and consequently, the chances of having the disease increase with age.  Osteoporosis in patients also tends to worsen with age.  The incidence of fractures due to osteoporosis is expected to increase in the next 60 years.

This disease is caused by a number of factors, the first one being hormone deficiency.  Women in particular are more prone to osteoporosis than men because bone loss in women becomes accelerated 5 years after menopause.  Other factors that are known to cause or increase the chances of developing this skeletal disease include low calcium intake, having a sedentary lifestyle, drinking too much alcohol, and smoking.

One of the treatments being done for osteoporosis is the use of anabolic steroids.   These have been found to help patients, specially the very elderly ones, who are experiencing bone loss at a rapid rate.

Anabolic steroids are more popularly known as the substances that are used to enhance body building and muscle gain.  These substances are also being used widely in medicine, and treatment for osteoporosis is one of its important applications.  Anabolic steroids have been shown to stimulate the formation of new bone, to increase the absorption of calcium, and to provide relief from spinal fracture pain.

According to studies, administration of anabolic steroids to osteoporosis patients resulted in an increase in bone mass in both men and women.  Another advantage of using steroids is that the patients’ fat tissue gets converted into muscles, which helps to strengthen the body.

About 3% of bone mass is gained every year as a result of anabolic steroid administration, with the maximum effect being observed during the first months of treatment.  This gain in bone mass is attributed to the anabolic steroid’s ability to stimulate bone formation and to promote muscle tissue growth over fat tissue growth.  Anabolic steroids have also been shown to increase the absorption of calcium in the body by activating vitamin D.