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Androstenedione Supplement Review
How does Andro work?When you take androstenedione it is converted into testosterone by a natural enzyme in the body. Either 3 beta- or 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrgenase, depending on the Andro isomer (-dione. -diol, nor-), are the enzymes that convert Andro (-dione. -diol, nor-) into testosterone or nortestosterone.
Androstenedione >>>>>>>>>>> Testosterone 4-Androstenediol >>>>>>>>>>> Testosterone 5-Androstenediol >>>>>>>>>>> Testosterone 19-Norandrostenedione >>>>>>>>>>> Nortestosterone 19-Norandrostenediol >>>>>>>>>>> Nortestosterone Once converted into testosterone or nortestosterone in your body you may get the numerous muscle-building and recovery effects testosterone provides through its various pathways. More testosterone - more protein synthesis - greater recovery - more strength - more muscle!
Will Andro help me gain muscle?
As long as you workout properly, get plenty of rest, eat a good diet, and get plenty of protein, androstenedione may help you gain more muscle and strength faster. By increasing your testosterone or nortestosterone levels, Andro (-dione. -diol, nor-) may help to increase protein synthesis and your body’s ability to recuperate faster.
How quickly will I see results when taking Andro?
It depends. You may start feeling energetic and "good" in just a matter of days. You may start seeing increases in strength in 2 weeks and increases in lean muscle shortly there after. Understand, you have to train. Your training intensity will directly effect the results you see while taking androstenedione.
How much muscle can I expect to gain with Andro?
Again, it depends on several factors, such as how intense you train, how well you eat, the quality of the protein you eat, and your genetic potential. I have seen gains of 17 pounds in 6 weeks. This is pretty outstanding but not uncommon. Androstenedione may increase your testosterone levels. What you do to take advantage of this increase will be reflected in the results you achieve.
I’m 16 years old, can I take Andro?
We don’t recommend taking androstenedione if you are under 18. Quite simply, you don’t need it. You’ll benefit much more from a high quality creatine and whey protein supplement such as Creatine and Whey protein. I would also recommend a good multi-vitamin.
Can I take Andro with Creatine and Whey Protein?
Yes and we highly recommend it. These are completely different supplements that work on completely different pathways. They will not interfere with one another and only act to complement each supplement’s effect.
Example: Andro for supporting testosterone production. Creatine for buffering ATP and increasing cell volume. Whey Protein for higher nitrogen levels and increased protein synthesis.
Also, Creatine may provide support for increasing 3 beta- and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) replication. These are the enzymes needed to convert androstenedione into testosterone.
There are many different Andro supplements like Androstenedione, Androstenediol and 19-Norandrostenedione. What are the differences?
It is quite confusing with all the different isomers of androstenedione. Let’s try to simplify it a bit.
There are two compounds and only two compounds that convert directly into testosterone in the body. These are androstenedione and androstenediol. Other substrates will convert into testosterone but not directly. For example, DHEA converts into androstenedione and androstenediol which are then converted into testosterone.
There are two compounds that convert directly into nortestosterone. Nortestosterone is a very anabolic (muscle building) and less androgenic (masculine imparting) hormone. These are 19-Norandrostenedione and 19-Norandrostenediol.
Now you also have different isomers of all these pro-hormones with each one having a little bit different effect. A common question is "Which one works the best?". Well, there is no carved-in-stone answer to this question. What works well for one person might not be quite as effective for another person.
Should I take Andro on days I don’t train?
Yes! Just follow the same time-dose schedule. It is very important to take supplements on your non-workout days as these are critical recovery days where your body may utilize the pro-hormone substrates and other nutrients for supporting muscle growth and repair.
Should I take Andro with meals or on an empty stomach?
Either way, it does not matter.
Should I cycle Andro? And if so, how?
We recommend that you cycle Andro for 6 weeks on and 2 weeks off. We also recommend that you cycle the different types.
Can I take different Andro supplements together?
Yes you can. We have researched several combinations that have turned out to be very effective. We have also been researching a specific dose-timing pattern that we believe will dramatically increase andro’s support for hormone conversion. These unique dose-timing patterns may work off of certain hormonal rhythms in your body. We are currently in the process of patenting these dose-timing techniques.
Will Andro cause me to lose my hair?
Hair loss or male pattern baldness is a hereditary trait believed to be caused by excessive DHT accumulation at the hair follicle. DHT is a very potent androgen. The rate at which androstenedione converts to DHT is not fully understood. More research needs to be conducted into this area.
If you are overly concerned about hair loss and androstenedione's possible contribution, but you still want the effects of pro-hormone supplements, 19-Nor 250 is probably the pro-hormone to look into. 19-Nor 250 contains 19-Norandrostenedione which supports nortestosterone production. Nortestosterone is highly anabolic hormone but is considered low androgenic.
Will Andro show up on a drug test?
It will show up IF they are specifically looking for it. Or it could trigger a false positive for testosterone by increasing the testosterone / epitestosterone ratio above 6 to 1 or 10 to 1 in some drug screens.
19-Norandrostenedione and 19-Norandrostenediol are a bit different. Since they convert into nortestosterone they will show up on a drug screen as "nandrolone" which is a marker for the anabolic steroid "Deca Durabolin".
You must understand though, if, for example, your employer is drug testing you for recreational drugs (marijuana, cocaine, etc.) androstenedione will not show up. In other words, a drug test does not show every drug in the world. It will only reveal the drugs that the test is specifically looking for.
I know some natural bodybuilders that were taking 19-Norandrostenedione and still passed the drug tests. How is that?
Simple, they thought they were taking 19-Norandrostenedione when they really were not. You see, there are many companies that sell products labeled as 19-Norandrostenedione but in reality they contain no 19-Norandrostenedione at all. Unfortunately this is not uncommon. 19-Norandrostenedione is a very expensive raw material. Many companies will take shortcuts and just use androstenedione instead. A dirty little trick but, sadly, much too common. Be very careful of what brands you use. AST Sports Science guarantees all our products 100% for purity and potency.
Why is Andro banned by the IOC (International Olympic Committee)?
Androstenedione is banned because it is considered a performance enhancing compound. If androstenedione is banned by your organization you recommend that you do not use it.
What is 19-NorandrosteneDIOL?
19-Norandrostenediol is an isomer of norandrostenedione. It converts into nortestosterone via enzyme conversion just like the other nor-andro products. 19-NorandrosteneDIOL's effects are very much like 19-NorandrosteneDIONE. Virtually indistinguishable.
There is one big problem with 19-NorandrosteneDIOL. There is no, I repeat, no good quality 19-NorandrosteneDIOL available on the market from anyone. Let me repeat this, ALL 19-NorandrosteneDIOL on the market as of 1-29-99 is of very low quality and very high in impurities. I don't care who the company is and how good of a reputation they have if they are currently using 19-NorandrosteneDIOL they are selling a poor quality, under spec product that is very high in impurities.
The synthesizing technology for 19-NorandrosteneDIOL is just not up to the standard it needs to be at this time. Mind you, many companies are ignoring this fact. In the quest to sell you the "latest" andro product they are purchasing whatever material the can find - usually based on the cheapest price they can find - and solely relying on the Certificate of Analysis from the raw material provider. I challenge ANY company selling a 19-NorandrosteneDIOL to publicly submit it for testing at a certified lab. I guarantee it will not come up to spec. Most 19-NorandrosteneDIOL is specking out at around 30% to 40% with as high as 70% impurities. Not good!
This is why, at this time, you will not see a 19-NorandrosteneDIOL offered by AST Sports Science.
What other supplements should I take with Andro?
Protein! This is very important. Andro supplements may increase testosterone which helps build muscle by increasing protein synthesis. When you increase protein synthesis you need to supply extra protein to take full advantage of this valuable anabolic process. In fact, andro or no andro, if you train with weights or as an endurance athlete, you need a high-quality protein supplement to support muscle tissue repair and growth. Protein is essential and directly related to the results you achieve. We highly recommend VP2 Whey Peptide Isolate as the most effective protein to help build muscle and enhance recovery.
*As I said earlier, you should avoid soy protein as it is high in isoflavones which have an inhibiting effect on 3 beta- and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes. These are the enzymes that convert pro-hormone compounds into testosterone. If you inhibit these enzymes you inhibit testosterone production.
I am an endurance athlete, should I use Andro?
Studies show that endurance athletes have chronically low testosterone levels when compared to sedentary men. As much as 45% lower! Supporting testosterone production through the use of androstenedione may be a good idea.
For and endurance athlete, this may be the biggest performance enhancing secret of the decade!
I’ve read on the Internet that 4-Androstenediol is better that 5-Androstenediol. Is this true?
No this is definitely NOT true. Let me guess, you read that from someone with a vested interest in 4-Androstenediol? We offer both the 4-Androstenediol and the 5-Androstenediol. Our research shows 5-Androstenediol to be a little bit more effective at supporting testosterone production than 4-Androstenediol. The difference is very slight and statistically insignificant but still better nonetheless.
There seems to be another benefit to 5-Androstenediol that has not been touched on yet. It may exert anabolic effects in its unconverted state. This means that it might not have to be converted into testosterone to have an anabolic effect on muscle tissue. This is very significant because a large portion of all pro-hormone substrates go unconverted in the body. With 5-Androstenediol, this unconverted portion may be anabolic in muscle tissue. More research need to be done to confirm this, but it looks promising.
AST Sports Science has also offered to co-fund and support an in-depth study on 4-Androstenediol and 5-Androstenediol. So far, the other major marketers have been unwilling to join in. What does that tell you?
There are so many different brands of Andro on the market, how do I know which one to chose?
That's a good question. It seems like every company has put out an androstenedione supplement and that's not good. Why? Because there are far more "bad-apples" in the supplement business than good ones. And with products such as androstenedione supplements a high degree of expertise is required to understand the differences in the various isomers and most importantly, how to chose and manufacture high quality raw materials. More androstenedione, androstenediol, norandrostenedione, and norandrostenediol supplements on the market are way under label specs or don't contain any active compound at all than there are that meet what the label says.
We have tested many brands and are very disappointed with the results we are coming up with. At this time, we can only recommend AST Sports Science Andro supplements because we test all raw materials and finished product every step of the way. Unfortunately, other companies are not doing this.
How long does androstenedione stay in the system? In other words, how long before I get tested do I have to stop taking it?
I would recommend you stop taking androstenedione 2 to 3 weeks before your drug test. This should be enough time to avoid false positives.
When the use of the Andro supplement is discontinued will I lose the muscle size and strength I’ve gained?
If you continue to train and eat well - making sure your protein intake is high - there is no reason you should lose muscle.
I’m 23 years old. Will I really see a benefit from Andro?
If you train, supplement with high-quality protein, and take androstenedione you should see results.
In fact, a recent study revealed that the largest percentage drop in pro-hormone levels occurs between the ages of 20 and 30.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Andro?
Drinking in moderation while taking androstenedione should not pose a problem, but use your head. Having a beer every now and then is okay, but getting hammered a couple of nights a week is just plain stupid. Not only is it bad for you, but it certainly will hinder your progress in gaining muscle size and strength. Why spend all that time in the gym and then poison your body and kill your recovery by drinking in excess?
Note: In the US Andro is against the law and no longer legal to buy or use.
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Disclaimer: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.
