What Are Steroids?
With such an array of anabolic steroids available throughout history, differentiation between compounds can be a struggle. With new compounds being discovered and adapted to offer different benefits in search of the ideal steroid, a whole host of steroids have been created, some used for medicinal purposes, whereas others developed purely to promote muscle and strength gains.
Whatever steroid it is, all anabolic/androgenic steroids are preparations based on or containing one of three naturally occurring steroidal hormones: Testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and nandrolone.
All steroids created are chemically altered derivatives of one of these three natural hormones.
Testosterone is the most prominent hormone found in males and produced in the testes. Women also produce the hormone in small quantities, especially when we consider that males produce around forty to sixty times more testosterone than women.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a biologically active metabolite of testosterone, altered by the reduction of the 4,5 double bond. Dihydrotestosterone is a strong androgen which controls the male characteristics in men and is around three times more potent that testosterone.
Nandrolone, like testosterone, is produced naturally in the body, typically in minute quantities of less than 0.4ng/ml.Unlike testosterone, nandrolone is not converted into DHT and so typical effects of masculinisation should not be noticed in typical doses.
These three hormones are the base for all steroid preparations seen today. Alterations to the chemical structure can completely change the performance of the hormone and its ability to promote muscular gains.
Testosterone derived steroidal preparations include, but not limited to; Boldenone, dianabol and methyltestosterone. Methyltestosterone is the most basic derivative of testosterone, differing by the addition of 17-alpha methylation that makes the steroid orally active.
DHT derivatives include; mesterolone, stanozolol and drostanolone. Even slight chemical alterations can impact the end results greatly, as seen with drostanolone. Here, the addition of a 2-methyl group increases the stability of the 3-keto group and increases muscle building activity.
Steroids derived from Nandrolone display a much higher anabolic to androgenic effect and include steroids like; Norethandrolone and trenbolone. Norethandrolone is simply nandrolone with an added 17-alpha ethyl group to increase oral activity.
So to understand the properties of the new chemically altered steroids, the base hormones need to be known and understood. The possibilities when it comes to steroids are endless and so new compounds and improvements on old formulas are constantly being discovered and introduced to the bodybuilding market.
