In an article
taken from Scientific American, 1998, Timothy N.
Ziegenfuss a professor of physiology at Eastern Michigan University who
is researching several different types of steroid hormones had this to
say, “Over-the-counter steroids work in a different way. The substances,
which are supposed to be taken orally and typically in 100-milligram doses,
make it into the liver, which destroys all but a few percent of the amount
ingested. The few milligrams that survive, however, combine with
various enzymes there and temporarily boost testosterone levels.
But whether they do so significantly enough to make a difference for muscle
building (anabolism) or athletics is now hotly disputed.”
That is
a good statement because it tells us just how little we know about andro.
We can not be sure exactly what the long term effects andro has because
there are not enough solid studies to show any conclusive evidence.
Some of
the short-term effects that andro is associated with are acne, decreased
testosterone production, decreased spermatogenesis, testicular atrophy,
gynecomastia, behavioral changes, and possibly an increase in prostate
cancer. In women, side effects include acne, a deeper voice, male
pattern baldness, hirsutism, clitoral hypertrophy, amenorrhea, and coarsening
of the skin. In adolescents, andro can lead to early closing of the
growth plates causing decreased adult height. (Medical
Letter on Drugs & Therapeutics 1998)
It seems as though
a lot of side effects associated with anabolic steroids are also the same
side effects associated with andro. The question is whether or not
this trend will continue to hold true as more research is done.
The effects the andro has
on the body in a physically is also debated. Some tests say that
andro is a good tool for muscle growth, but again those tests are just
preliminary. Other tests have suggested that andro has little or
no effect and whatever benefits there are, are outweighed by the bad.
Back to Androstendione: Background
Info, Effects, Conclusions
This Page was constructed by Scott Dishong, a
student at Wayne State College 
, on 4-10-99
