By Admin – Steroidal.com
Nandrolone, the parent hormone in the popular injectable steroids – Deca-Durabolin and NPP – has been found to be damaging to blood vessels.
Researchers from the University of L’Aquila in Italy have discovered that Nandrolone is eleven times more potent than Testosterone at destroying blood vessel lining in human cells.
Using anabolic steroids such as Testosterone and Nandrolone increase the risk of fatal heart failure. This is then increased again by using human growth hormone, larger steroid doses and prolonged exposure to anabolic steroids and hGH.
The theory of why this occurs is due to cardiomegaly (heart enlargement). Again, the risk of heart enlargement is magnified by regular weight lifting and aerobic activity. After all, the heart is a muscle and will grow when trained.
Worsening this still, certain anabolic steroids like Boldenone (Equipoise) and Testosterone can increase red blood cell count and hematocrit, leading to increased risk of heart attacks and blood clotting.
Adding more fuel to the fire (I know its not looking good), anabolic steroids also have a direct effect on the heart and blood vessels. In high dosages, steroid will kill heart cells and cause blood clots. Androgens will also cause blood vessels to thin (stenosis).
Anabolic steroids are also proven to cause hypertension (high blood pressure) causing an increase in coronary heart disease (CHD). Some steroids cause the walls of the blood vessels (endothelial cells) to harden, pushing up blood pressure as well.
This effect on endothelial cells is the background of the Italian study, and which steroids lead to hardening.
The Italian doctors investigated the effect on endothelial cells when exposed to Testosterone, the testosterone precursor androstenedione and two precursors of Nandrolone.
The more an anabolic steroid reduces growth of the blood vessels the more dangerous it is. As you can see, Nandrolone came out on top, more so than Testosterone and its two precursors.
Although Nandrolone came out the worst offender, its two precursors Norandrostenediol and Norandrostenedione were mild.
The graphs above show the effect of testosterone [blue], Nandrolone [black] and Norandrostenediol [green] on the growth and development of the endothelium cells, indicating their danger.
The researchers also found that the anabolic steroids increased calcium or calcification of the blood vessels, another indicator of CHD risk.
Deca-Durabolin and Nandrolone Phenylpropionate (NPP) are popular anabolic steroids used by bodybuilders, athletes and recreational steroid users. We think they should be avoided though, as there are safer alternatives often available, which won’t cause such dramatic effects on heart related side effects.
Source:
Toxicol Lett. 2007 Mar 8; 169(2):129-36.
