Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1

Restoring Growth Hormone

It has been argued that the age-dependent decline in sex steroid, Growth Hormone, and IGF-I production is nature’s way of protecting us from cancer and heart disease, but a far more likely scenario is that once we reach our reproductive capacity, nature begins programming us for death.

Such programming begins as the second decade of life draws to a close, the negative consequences of which become more noticeable with each passing year.  We begin to experience a steady decline in immune function. Our bodies increase production of glucocorticoids (catabolic hormones) and cytokines (inflammatory) which negatively impact metabolism, bone density, strength, exercise tolerance, cognitive function, and mood.

The hormones of sex, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Human Growth Hormone (HGH), and Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) are positively correlated with the health and well-being of the body in general and the specific functioning of metabolism, the cardiovascular system, the musculature skeletal system, cognitive function & the immune system. However these hormonal levels naturally decline as we age and as a consequence those systems necessary to maintain optimal health decline as well.

A progressive decline in lean body mass, atrophy of its component organs & reduction in their function and increased deposition of adipose tissue mass characteristic of the aging human body result partially from the body's diminished secretion of HGH. These negative changes resulting from growth hormone deficiency have been shown to be reversible by replacement doses of HGH.

HGH is a vital anabolic hormone whose positive stimulatory effects on protein synthesis (particularly in the liver, muscle, bone, cartlidge, spleen, kidney, skin, thymus, and red blood cells) and on lipolysis (the breakdown of fat stored in fat cells) contributes greatly to growth, repair & well-being.

HGH secretion is primarily regulated by the release of two peptides, Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH) and Somatostatin. The hypothalamus region of the brain releases these hormones in response to signals from the central nervous system. GHRH once released makes its way to the receptors on the somatotrope cells of the pituitary gland of the brain where it stimulates HGH release. Somatostatin once released makes its way to the receptors on the somatotrope cells of the pituitary gland of the brain where it inhibits HGH release.

The primary physiological action of somatostatin is to inhibit synthesis and release of GH.  The primary physiological action of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH) is to stimulate synthesis and release of HGH. The end product of this cascade, HGH once secreted exerts its effect in the body as a whole both directly and indirectly through its initiation of Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) synthesis in the liver. IGF-1 in turn exerts its effect in the body and its rise in turn begins to inhibit any further HGH release.

HGH is released periodically within the body in a controlled pulsating fashion. This periodic pattern plays an important role in transmitting the HGH "growth, repair & well-being" message to tissue. A review of several studies involving HGH replacement in HGH-deficient animals reveals the biological significance of episodic secretion. These studies conclude that HGH released in a pulsatile pattern is far more efficient in improving mammalian growth and repair than the method of HGH administration by constant infusion.

In males HGH pulses occur approximately every three (3) hours, a frequency that appears across most mammals. The secretion bursts are preceded and followed by almost undetectable levels of plasma HGH. In females however HGH pulses occur more frequently and the base level of plasma HGH remains higher than males who have fewer HGH pulses but the amplitude of which are more pronounced.  HGH pulse amplitudes are increased during slow wave sleep such that particularly in males, most HGH secretion occurs at night. HGH secretion is highest during the growing years of youth and early adulthood. In humans the secretion rate starts to noticeably decrease during the third decade of life and strongly decreases during the fourth decade of life. As we age the daytime secretory pulses diminish first, while the sleep associated HGH pulse persists and diminishes gradually.

Nudging Nature

HGH levels may be increased either by exogenically administering HGH or by administering Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone which then endogenically stimulates the somatrope cells of the pituitary to secrete additional HGH. The primary advantage of GHRH is that HGH ends up being released in physiological conformance to the body’s natural biorhythm. This biorhythm is pulsatile.

Studies have concluded that endogenous Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) is the principal regulator of pulsatile HGH secretion in humans and that continuous GHRH infusion augments pulsatile HGH release. Whereas exogenic administration of HGH raises overall HGH levels but has no effect on amplifying the pulses.

People of all ages naturally continue to possess the ability to secrete HGH from stores within the pituitary. Most studies are in agreement on this point. One study in particular examined the effects of administration of GHRH & a Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide on all adult age groups from those in their 20's to those above 75 years of age. They observed substantial increases in HGH release as a direct result of administration of GHRH & GHRP-6. This prompted them to conclude, "...that the lack of side-effects & safety of the protocol and the discovered lack of age-related decline in the 'GHRH-GHRP-6-mediated' GH release opens the possibility of using it as a therapeutical tool to revert some deleterious manifestations of aging in man."

Best Steroids For Fat Loss and Lean Bulk Cycles

Fat Loss Steroids

When it comes to anabolic steroid supplementation, most are generally concerned with bulking or cutting. To truly get the results you desire, you're always best served by focusing on one direction at a time, and when it's time to cut, fat loss steroids are often the answer. Go to any anabolic steroid message board and you'll find a host of threads asking about the best fat loss steroids, and of course, you'll find a host of answers. In truth, all anabolic androgenic steroids are fat loss steroids, but there are some that will have a more pronounced effect. Let's take a look and see what we can find, and through our discovery, you'll be able to maximize your fat loss and cutting needs.

Anabolic Steroids are Fat Loss Steroids:

All anabolic steroids can be classified as fat loss steroids; at least to a degree. One of the most basic actions of anabolic steroids is increasing metabolic activity, thereby enabling you to burn more fat. The more powerful your metabolism is the more fat you'll burn, but the enhanced rate also provides you with another ability. With a more powerful metabolism, you're enabled with the ability to maximize your caloric intake to a greater degree. This means during the off-season bulking period you'll be able to gain new lean tissue while accumulating less fat than you would otherwise.

While an enhanced metabolism makes all anabolic steroids fat loss steroids, by the manner in-which anabolic steroids preserve lean tissue further enhances the process. When we diet, we must consume fewer calories than we burn; by doing so, our body is forced to tap into our reserves. Of course, through this process lean muscle tissue is often lost; it's not uncommon to see someone diet and lose weight, but at the end of the diet, their body-fat percentage hasn't improved all that much. Further, as they are burning through lean tissue this slows their metabolism down; while the body is being forced to tap into reserves it will often tap into lean tissue first if you're not careful and save the fat by its natural survival instinct. At any rate, with anabolic steroids in play, we are able to preserve more lean tissue that would otherwise be lost, and by doing so, we are able to burn more fat. Further, because we'll be at a leaner state while still holding on to the lean tissue we've built we'll simply look and feel better.

The Ultimate Fat Loss Steroid:

While all anabolic steroids enhance the metabolism, effectively making all anabolic steroids fat loss steroids, there is one anabolic steroid that stands above the rest. If we were to label one anabolic steroid the ultimate fat loss steroid, it would undoubtedly go to the Trenbolone hormone. Like all anabolic steroids, Trenbolone as it is commonly known enhances metabolic activity; it simply does it in a more pronounced manner. Further, unlike the majority of anabolic steroids, Trenbolone has a strong, direct effect on lipolysis by the manner in-which it binds so strongly to the androgen receptors which creates a scenario where fat must be burned. Moreover, by its nature, Trenbolone greatly increases nutrient efficiency; simply put, each calorie is utilized to a much greater degree, and far more so than with the use of any other steroid. If that wasn't enough, Trenbolone also promotes the release of the naturally occurring peptide hormone IGF-1; a highly anabolic hormone that affects nearly every cell in the body. Of course, many steroids promote IGF-1 release, but Trenbolone simply does it at a much greater rate. With an increase in IGF-1, as this makes us more anabolic it increases our metabolic rate yet again. As you can easily see, when it comes to fat loss steroids Trenbolone is truly king.

Top Shelf Fat Loss Steroids:

While all anabolic steroids are fat loss steroids, and while Trenbolone is the king of them all, the obvious question is which ones other than Tren will maximize metabolic activity to the greatest degree? When looking for quality fat loss steroids, there are a few things we want; enhanced metabolic efficiency, the ability to significantly preserve lean tissue, and the ability to improve conditioning in a visual sense. With that in mind, we can confidently say while the best of the best is Trenbolone, beyond Trenbolone the best fat loss steroids include:

• Anavar
• Equipoise
• Masteron
• Primobolan Depot
• Testosterone (any form)
• Winstrol (oral or injectable)

Is Testosterone King of Anabolic Steroids?

As the most widely used drug in bodybuilding, testosterone’s rise to dominance did not take place by chance. For over a generation it has been proving itself in the real-world; taking size and strength to never before seen levels in bodybuilders and strength athletes alike. However, it was not until recently that we began to explore and understand the mechanisms by which testosterone produces such powerful effects. This has prompted many scientists to further elucidate on the subject, bringing a greater awareness of testosterone’s ability to enhance the muscle growth process.

At first glance, testosterone doesn’t appear to possess any characteristics capable of securing the #1 spot among performance enhancing drugs. According to Androgens and Anabolic Agents, the traditionally accepted steroid reference guide authored by Julius Vida, it possesses an anabolic rating of 100. This is considered fairly mediocre by today’s standards, as numerous anabolic steroids have exceeded the 1,000 mark and few have even reached a lofty 10,000. In terms of overall side effects it is quite harsh, requiring the concomitant use of ancillary drugs in order to prevent/minimize them.

While testosterone may fall short in these areas, an evaluation of the bigger picture reveals a drug that works through multiple pathways, providing a synergistic effect that is greater than the sum of its parts. In addition, although the side effect profile associated with testosterone use is extensive, it is not a hindrance to optimal dosing, as the majority of its side effects are either cosmetic in nature, or relatively mild in their impact on the internal organs. This allows testosterone to be administered at far larger dosages than would be possible with most other steroids, directly increasing its muscle building potential.

The primary pathway by which testosterone mediates its muscle building effects is through increased protein synthesis via androgen receptor binding, but in order to understand how this works, we must first understand what receptor sites are and what their role is. Receptor sites are proteins which lie on the surface of every cell, serving as docking ports for circulating chemical messengers, such as steroids. Upon uniting with one of these chemical messengers, the receptor receives a set of instructions, or message encoded within that particular chemical. This message is then relayed to the nucleus of the cell, initiating a series of physiological and biochemical changes associated with that chemical.

In this case, the androgen receptor is a receptor site specific to the family of steroid molecules, which is responsible for mediating the physiologic effects of anabolic steroids by binding to specific DNA sequences that influence transcription of androgen responsive genes. Most of the outward effects we experience when using anabolic steroids, both good and bad, are a direct result of it binding with the androgen receptor.

In addition to AR binding, testosterone also increases levels of Insulin-like growth factor, or IGF-1. Displaying structural and functional similarities to insulin, IGF-1 is normally produced in the liver via growth hormone and demonstrates both direct & indirect anabolic activity through several mechanisms, as well as anti-catabolic effects. IGF-1 also plays a role in satellite cell proliferation and differentiation, potentially resulting in the creation of new muscle cells. More commonly, satellite cells are involved in myonuclear accretion, which we will discuss more in second. Lastly, IGF-1 increases nutrient transport into muscle cells, accelerating protein synthesis and enhancing the recovery and growth process.

IGF-1 is considered one of the “Big 4”, which also includes anabolic steroids, growth hormone, and insulin. Today, exogenous IGF-1 is widely sold on the grey-market by peptide/research chemical companies and is frequently included in the programs of many. While exogenous IGF-1 is capable of elevating blood levels of this hormone to a far greater degree than what is seen with exogenous testosterone administration, the increase is still significant, with many achieving a blood level in the low supraphysiological range. It should also be mentioned that unlike the LR3 variant, which is the most commonly used form of exogenous IGF-1, the body will not desensitize to the IGF-1 which is produced as a result of testosterone administration.

Lest anyone assume that this IGF-1 elevating effect is universal to all AAS, let it be known that this is not the case. On one particular study designed to evaluate the effects of both testosterone and nandrolone on IGF-1, the study results show that only testosterone increased IGF-1 levels. However, it is interesting to note that while nandrolone had no effect on IGF-1 levels, it did decrease IGFBP-3 levels; an IGF-1 binding protein which prevents IGF-1 from being used by the body. These study results indicate a possible synergistic effect between these 2 steroids, providing merit for the traditional Test-Deca stack.

Research has also demonstrated the ability of testosterone to increase androgen receptor density (the number of androgen receptors in muscle tissue), thereby increasing the amount of testosterone (or other AAS) which can be effectively utilized by the body. Basically, this effect increases the body’s growth potential. Generally speaking, this benefit will only apply to very advanced BB’rs using large dosages of testosterone and/or other AAS. Still, the ability to modify one’s existing genetic capacity for muscle growth contributes to testosterone’s overall allure among the more hardcore crowd.

One interesting effect of testosterone that was recently brought to my attention, is testosterone’s role in myonuclear accretion. Basically, this term is used to describe an increase in the number of nuclei present within muscle fiber. Why is this significant? Most cell types contain a single nucleus. However, muscle fiber contains an extensive number of myonuclei, which work together to control the programming, function, and development of the fiber. With each nuclei being capable of governing a set portion of each muscle fiber, the number of nuclei present will determine the total amount of muscle volume which can be managed. Therefore, there is a direct correlation between nuclei count and growth potential. The more nuclei a muscle fiber contains, the bigger it can get.

A single human muscle fiber can contain as many of 10,000+ myonuclei, with this number remaining more or less static throughout one’s lifetime. However, supraphysiological testosterone use can increase this number, improving our genetic capacity for muscle growth. More so, once these additional nuclei have been acquired, they remain are permanent fixture of the muscle fiber, regardless of drug or training status.

Another pathway by which testosterone can augment the muscle growth process is through increased satellite cell activity. Upon activation, these cells can contribute to muscle hypertrophy in 3 different ways; by providing additional myonuclei to existing muscle fibers (as explained above), by differentiating into new muscle fibers (hyperplasia), or by fusing to currently existing muscle fibers, thereby assisting in growth & repair process. This effect is dose-dependent, with higher doses leading to greater increases in activity. In one particular study, satellite cell activation continued to increase at each subsequent dosing point of 125 mg/week, 300 mg/week, and 600 mg/week. This highlights the importance of total dose in maximizing this growth pathway, although at this juncture we can only speculate regarding the point of diminishing returns.

Next, let’s take a brief look at the non-genomic actions of testosterone. Non-genomic actions of  anabolic steroids are mediated via non-AR pathways and therefore lack the typical gene transcription actions associated with that pathway. Rather, they involve second messenger participation and demonstrate a rapid onset of action; usually only seconds to minutes. Furthermore, non-genomic actions of anabolic steroids differ from the genomic in that they require the constant presence of the hormone in order to continue exerting their effects. Once the hormone is removed, its effects cease. One such example is the ability of testosterone to improve force production via a direct and acute effect on calcium- dependent components involved in the contractile process. In comparison to AR-mediated effects, the non-genomic actions of testosterone have been poorly investigated, with scientists just now beginning to understand how some of these pathways work to affect muscle growth and function. Further research needs to be conducted in this area before we can fully expound on this mechanism of action.

The ability of testosterone to initiate muscle growth through multiple, independent growth pathways, along with its improved safety profile at higher dosages, combine to create what many claim is the “King of the Steroids”. While this claim is certainly open to dispute, there can be no doubt that testosterone is one of the most myotropic drugs in existence when used within an optimal dosing range. Its reputation as a mass and strength drug par excellence is well-deserved, with the majority of today’s bodybuilders including some form of testosterone in every cycle they run. If your goal is to build your physique to its maximum potential, be prepared for this steroid to play a central role in your PED regimen from this point forward.

Using Steroids in Bodybuilding

With the popularity of bodybuilding assured without let-up, more and more people are joining the bodybuilding bandwagon. When you see those chiseled bodies on World Wrestling Entertainment shows on cable, sports and health magazines showcasing well-sculpted muscles and Hollywood celebrity hunks flaunting their hard bodies, the allure of bodybuilding can be insurmountable, especially for the dreamy teens and young adults wanting a share of the limelight.

It's no secret that just like the cosmetic industry, the bodybuilding market is a multi-billion dollar industry with gym memberships, gym gears for the home, apparels and food supplements that include body-building steroids to comprise the regimen just about every muscle-building enthusiast won't mind spending their money on. And for most people, getting the body they want at the shortest time possible takes them to where athletic associations frown on – the use of anabolic steroids.

Oh yes, they're true alright. Anabolic steroids have long been used by athletes to boost performance right before a contest event as well as enhance muscle mass and strength among weightlifters. This has not escaped bodybuilders who consider them a miracle drug for gaining the muscle mass and endurance they need.

Anabolic steroids are basically anabolic testosterone derived from humans or animals to get the muscle mass they want in the shortest time possible. For the more serious professional bodybuilders, steroids also boost their stamina and endurance to last through the daunting workouts in the gym.

Human anabolic steroids are marketed under various names like Anadrol, Durabolin, Sustanon, and Anavar. Any of these will give you the muscular mass and strength you want. Anabolic steroids belong under Category III of controlled substances which not even doctors can prescribe to athletes under pain of prosecution under the law. They can only be obtained online and from the streets and can be administered either orally or through muscle and intravenous injections.

The desired results from imbibing anabolic steroids are temporary and as such require regular use if the bodybuilder wants to maintain the muscle mass obtained from it. But there are health risks associated with its use.

• Prolonged and continuous use are known to damage internal organs like liver and kidneys and have been documented to contribute to a host of sexual problems, one of which is testicle shrinkage. 
• Overdose in the hope of getting more strength and muscle mass not only harms the body but has limited effects. Unused anabolic steroids in the body are converted to estrogen which can make you look more effeminate. 
• Counterfeit  anabolic steroids are everywhere to take advantage of uninformed bodybuilders too eager to get their muscles up. They range for mere ineffective placebos to powerful ones that do more harm than good. It is best that you take some time to evaluate your sources online before plunging into any steroid regimen. 

People taking anabolic steroids require a more vigorous training regimen to use them up. Protein and non-fat carbohydrate intake needs to be increased to 5000-7000 calories daily if you are on regular steroids. A regular blood test is likewise necessary to check on your anabolic steroid levels to ensure they are within safe levels.