Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "
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15.01.2009 |
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Medical study: twelve weeks on Deca-Durabolin
The doctors did tests on eighty patients who required regular dialysis. The patients' kidneys were no longer functioning well and they were having dialysis to clean their blood. People whose kidneys are not working properly experience a decline in quality of life, and their muscle strength and mass declines. The researchers wanted to know whether strength training and the anabolic steroid nandrolon decanoate would have any effect.
The test subjects had to train their legs three times a week. They did no training for the upper body. The men were given a weekly injection of 200 mg nandrolone decanoate and the women got 100 mg. The preparation the doctors used was Deca-Durabolin, made by Organon.
The figure below shows the effect of the treatments on body composition.
Strength training reduced the fat free mass. Does that mean that strength training without steroids does not lead to an increase in muscle mass in dialysis patients? We can’t assume this is so. Fat free mass is not only muscle, but also includes fluid and bone mass. When the researchers measured the circumference of the quadriceps, it was clear that strength training without steroids resulted in more muscles. But the results also make it clear that the combination of steroids and strength training works better than just training. The patients that got steroids and didn't train developed bigger thigh muscles than the patients that trained but didn't get steroids.
When the researchers measured their subjects' muscle strength, the picture changed. Just strength training resulted in a greater increase in muscle strength than using Deca without doing strength training. But again, the combination of Deca and training seemed to be most effective.
When the researchers assessed the effect of the steroids and the training sessions on the quality of life and mental functioning of their subjects, they made an interesting discovery.
The quality of life increased the most in the patients who trained but took no steroids. The researchers only assessed physical functioning: standing up from sitting and walking up stairs. The subjects who trained were less tired, and the use of steroids added little to this.
Interestingly though, the patients who got Deca experienced more anger, but there was no increase in aggression in the patients who took steroids and trained.
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