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What Is The Role Of Different Testosterone Esters In Bodybuilding? What Is The Role Of Different Testosterone Esters In Bodybuilding?.............. 1 1. Testosterone And Bodybuilding History .......................................................2 2. What Is Testosterone And How Is It Produced? .........................................3 3. What Are Healthy Testosterone Levels?...................................................... 4 4. Are Steroids And Testosterone The Same Thing?......................................4 5. Who Needs Testosterone Treatment?.......................................................... 6 6. Why do Bodybuilders Prefer Testosterone Injections?.............................. 6 (1) Muscle Growth......................................................................................... 7 (2) Improved Endurance...............................................................................7 (3) Increased Muscle Strength.................................................................... 8 (4) Enhanced Athletic Performance............................................................8 (5) Maintain body fat and the weight composition....................................8 7. What Are The Most Common Esters Of Injection Testosterone?.............9 ⧫ Testosterone Enanthate........................................................................ 10 ⧫ Testosterone Cypionate........................................................................ 10 ⧫ Testosterone Propionate....................................................................... 10 ⧫ Testosterone Sustanon 250.................................................................. 11 ⧫ Testosterone Phenylpropionate............................................................11 ⧫ Testosterone Decanoate....................................................................... 11 ⧫ Testosterone Isocaproate......................................................................11 ⧫ Testosterone undecanoate....................................................................11 8. How To Get The Best Testosterone Esters For Bodybuilding? ............. 12 Testosterone is a naturally-occurring steroid hormone in the human body. The testosterone hormone is required for the physiological development of the male body and has several other functions, that have resulted in its use as an anabolic steroid by bodybuilders and athletes.
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1. Testosterone And Bodybuilding History Testosterone is a steroid hormone in the human body and with age, the testosterone level in the body begins to decline. This decline is accompanied by several side effects, such as hair loss, loss of muscle mass, and an overall decrease in mental and physical stamina. Testosterone steroid hormone is crucial for these in the body, and that realization is exactly what led to the use of exogenous testosterone as a testosterone treatment in the first place. In 1899, Dr. Brown-Sequard developed an Elixir of Life for males which was made of blood, semen, and testicular fluid that had been taken from dogs and guinea pigs. This may seem weird in light of today’s medical advancements but back in 1899, this was a groundbreaking discovery. Dr. Brown-Sequard tested this concoction on himself, noting a significant improvement in his overall health and stamina. As the word of Dr. Brown-Sequard’s success with animal testosterone-based elixir spread, more and more physicians began using the elixir. Eventually, it was prescribed by over 12,000 physicians, hence, paving the way for testosterone use. While Dr. Brown-Sequard’s concoction was successful due to the effects of testosterone steroid hormone, actual synthetic testosterone wasn’t developed till 1935, in Germany. The main use of this synthetic testosterone was to treat depression and that is what it was used for, till the 1954 Olympics. The main motivation for the misuse isn’t known but it was at the 1954 Olympics that athletes began to abuse testosterone as an anabolic steroid, for better physical performance. Even though the misuse of synthetic testosterone began in 1954, it was limited to athletes till the 1980s when the use of testosterone as an anabolic steroid spread to the general population as well. At this time, and till recently, the use of testosterone was predominantly by male non-athletes for their appearance, rather than their physical performance. The general population uses testosterone or steroids to improve their muscle mass, and appear bulkier and bigger rather than to perform well in sports. The general population noticed a significant improvement in their physical performance with exogenous testosterone. They experienced improved lean muscle mass, with decreased muscle soreness post-workout and an overall improved recovery period. All of these benefits led to the increased use of testosterone as an anabolic steroid by athletes and bodybuilders.
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The increased use of exogenous testosterone resulted in Congress publishing the Anabolic Steroid Act of 1990 which identified anabolic steroids as a drug class of their own and included them in the list of controlled substances.
2. What Is Testosterone And How Is It Produced? Testosterone is a steroid hormone that is found in both, men and women with higher levels in men, rather than women. It is a male sex hormone that is responsible for the development of male sex characteristics. Produced primarily in the testes, this steroid hormone is synthesized from cholesterol. The main source of testosterone in males and females is different as females most often depend on adrenal glands and peripheral tissue for testosterone synthesis whereas it is primarily synthesized by testes in men. The synthesis of testosterone, a steroid from the androstane group, depends on cholesterol and the activity of Leydig cells in the testes. Once synthesized, it is carried in the blood by sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and after it has been used, it is transported to the liver to be broken down into its inactive metabolites.
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3. What Are Healthy Testosterone Levels? A healthy average male should have testosterone levels in the range of 264 ng/dl to 916 ng/dl. This range is only applicable to non-obese males in the age range of 19 to 39 years, and the mean testosterone levels average at 630 ng/dl. Out of this, only 25 percent is actually active testosterone and around 2 percent to 3 percent is free testosterone. Testosterone is measured using the modified Vermeulen method, where only the testosterone that is bound to SHBG is measured. It also measures the testosterone that is weakly bound to albumin in the bloodstream but it does not measure free testosterone. It is important to note that this reference range of testosterone levels has been long disputed by physicians, with the main complaints being with the lower end of the range. Physicians believe that 294 ng/dl is too low and refers to hypogonadism or low testosterone levels, rather than being a normal value. Instead, they propose the use of 350 ng/dl as the lower cut-off value to make the reference range more accurate. However, this is not a widely accepted cut-off value and the official cut-off yet remains at 294 ng/dl although some private hospitals may consider 350 ng/dl as their cut-off. Another aspect to consider in checking the testosterone levels is that the steroid hormone undergoes fluctuations throughout the day, meaning that it is very likely that the values measured in the morning are going to be significantly different than the values measured in the evening. The values in the morning are much higher as the levels of testosterone decrease throughout the day. Testosterone levels are also dependent on the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) which itself is released rhythmically, on average, every couple of hours. This can be credited with the fluctuation in testosterone levels throughout the day.
4. Are Steroids And Testosterone The Same Thing? Testosterone and steroids are not the same things although, they have the same abilities, to an extent. It is important to delve into what anabolic steroids are before comparing them with testosterone.
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Anabolic-androgenic steroids are different components that have the same effect as the natural sex hormone, testosterone. In fact, they are synthetic forms of testosterone. Anabolic steroids can be either testosterone esters, testosterone precursors, or other forms of testosterone, given that they all function exactly like the natural hormone. It is important to note that anabolic steroids are different than corticosteroids such as prednisone that are used for the treatment of certain medical disorders. Anabolic steroids are often prescribed by physicians for low testosterone, as they function similarly. However, these types of steroids are also commonly abused and misused by athletes and bodybuilders to rapidly increase muscle mass. Anabolic steroids bind to the androgen receptor in the brain. Testosterone binds to this receptor usually to produce its effects, hence, explaining anabolic steroids' ability to act in a manner similar to testosterone. Anabolic steroids are available in a wide range of forms such as injections, pills, implanted pellets, gels, and creams. Similarly, there are many different types of anabolic steroids, all of which are used to treat medical disorders related to low testosterone levels. Testosterone is a male sex hormone that is produced naturally in the body. The testosterone esters, which are esters of either natural testosterone or synthetic testosterone are the most frequently used anabolic steroids for the treatment of low testosterone levels. Examples of testosterone esters include testosterone enanthate, testosterone cypionate, testosterone propionate, testosterone Sustanon 250, testosterone phenylpropionate, testosterone decanoate, testosterone isocaproate, and testosterone undecanoate. The reason behind the wide use of testosterone esters as the anabolic steroid is because the esterification process makes the anabolic steroid much more bioavailable by making the actual hormone or synthetic hormone metabolism-resistant. Simply put, these anabolic steroid esters become the prohormone or pro steroid versions, that need to be activated in the body. Since anabolic steroid esters are given via intramuscular injections, it is important to note the benefits that result from this form of steroid delivery. Testosterone esters elimination is slowed down as the absorption of the esters is slow as well. This helps combat the issue of a short half-life of testosterone esters. These esters are used in hormone replacement therapy and for low testosterone levels, so it is important to have a longer half-life.
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5. Who Needs Testosterone Treatment? As one ages, the level of testosterone begins to decline. This is a normal part of growing old for males, with there being a 1 percent decline in testosterone levels per year after the age of 30 years. Anyone over this age could potentially benefit from testosterone treatment with those using testosterone esters injections claiming to see a significant improvement in muscle mass, muscle growth, libido, and general mental and physical health.
6. Why do Bodybuilders Prefer Testosterone Injections? Testosterone injections have several benefits but it is important to note that when discussing this topic, testosterone injections refer to injections of testosterone esters. These injections only need to be taken once every two to four weeks, making it easier for bodybuilders and athletes to adhere to testosterone treatment. This long break between injections is possible due to the fact that intramuscular injections slow down the absorption of the testosterone ester in the bloodstream. Moreover, the esterification process makes synthetic testosterone metabolism resistant, meaning that it will be 6
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slowly released and used up by the body. All of this results in a longer half-life of synthetic testosterone and slower elimination. Generally, bodybuilders and athletes prefer testosterone injections because of the several benefits of the hormone that have been detailed below: (1) Muscle Growth Testosterone acts as an anabolic steroid, which in itself means muscle building. Hence, testosterone injections are used widely by athletes and bodybuilders for their ability to enhance and improve muscle growth. Testosterone usually performs its various functions by either converting to estrogen or dihydrotestosterone, which is the much more potent form of the hormone. However, the benefits that bodybuilders seek are the result of the direct action of testosterone on muscles and fat. Testosterone stimulates the muscle precursor cells known as satellite cells, to get activated and then either get incorporated into the muscle fibers to result in increased muscle size or to aggregate and form new muscle fibers. Regardless of which method is followed, the end result of testosterone stimulation is increased muscle mass. This is one of the main reasons why athletes and bodybuilders prefer to use testosterone injections. Testosterone also increases the number of androgen receptors in the muscle fiber by increasing the number of nuclei in the muscle fibers. This is especially helpful when bodybuilders train, as training tends to improve the sensitivity of the androgen receptors. With an increased number of receptors that are sensitive to testosterone esters, it is easier for testosterone to bind to the muscle fibers and perform the muscle-enhancing function. Testosterone is widely known as an anabolic steroid but it is also an anti-catabolic steroid which basically means that not only does it stimulate muscle building, but it also prevents muscle breakdown by inhibiting the activity of the catabolic hormones in the body. This further promotes muscle growth in bodybuilders. (2) Improved Endurance Testosterone has the ability to improve blood flow by stimulating the activity of erythropoietin in the body. What this hormone does is that it promotes blood cell formation, specifically, red blood cells. This is especially important for training athletes and bodybuilders as they require increased oxygen to match the muscle’s oxygen demands during workouts. As red blood cells carry 7
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oxygen in the blood and deliver it to peripheral muscles, this increase in red blood cells due to testosterone is highly beneficial for them. The increased oxygen supply acts as increased endurance because it prevents early fatigue of the muscles and allows training athletes to work out for longer durations. (3) Increased Muscle Strength The simplest way through which testosterone increases muscle strength is by increasing muscle size, which has been discussed above. This mechanism was believed to be the sole mechanism of action of testosterone injections that resulted in increased muscle strength but recent advancements in the field of medicine have found that muscle strength is also improved by the action of testosterone on calcium levels. Muscle contraction, and hence, strength is dependent on calcium release within a cell. Testosterone increases this calcium release, to improve muscle contraction, and hence, increase muscle strength. This is especially of benefit to bodybuilders with extensive weight-lifting workouts. (4) Enhanced Athletic Performance Testosterone, in the normal ranges, doesn’t really have a direct effect on athletic performance, but Olympic athletes have been found to have high testosterone levels. Both males and females have been observed to do exponentially better with increased testosterone levels in the body, although the mechanism is not yet clearly known. (5) Maintain body fat and the weight composition As testosterone acts directly on the central nervous system to regulate metabolism, it is not surprising to see increased fat and weight in men with low testosterone. Moreover, low testosterone levels in males often result in decreased caloric expenditure with slow basal metabolism rates due to the effect of testosterone on the central nervous system. Increased testosterone hormone through testosterone injections helps regulate weight composition with reduced fat content in the body. Testosterone injections ensure that the weight gained is primarily lean muscle mass and not body fat. This helps athletes and bodybuilders as they consume a large amount of calories and then burn them as well, but do not experience muscle loss but rather fat loss.
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7. What Are The Most Common Esters Of Injection Testosterone? The testosterone injection mostly contains testosterone esters due to the various benefits of the esters that have been detailed above. The structural properties of the most common esters of testosterone injection, in comparison with the testosterone medication, are mentioned below: Androge n
Ester Positio n(s)
Moiet(ies)
Type
Leng tha
Relat ive mol. weig ht
Relat ive T cont entb
Testosteron C17β e undecanoat e
Undecanoic acid
Straight-ch 11 ain fatty acid
1.58
0.63
Testosteron C17β e propionate
Propanoic acid
Straight-ch 3 ain fatty acid
1.19
0.84
Testosteron C17β e phenylpropi onate
Phenylpropan oic acid
Aromatic fatty acid
– (~6)
1.46
0.69
Testosteron C17β e isocaproate
Isohexanoic acid
Branched- – (~5) chain fatty acid
1.34
0.75
Testosteron C17β e isobutyrate
Isobutyric acid Aromatic fatty acid
1.24
0.80
Testosteron C17β e enanthate
Heptanoic acid
1.39
0.72
Testosteron C17β e decanoate
Decanoic acid Straight-ch 10 ain fatty acid
1.53
0.65
Testosteron C17β e cypionate
Cyclopentylpr opanoic acid
1.43
0.70
9
– (~3)
Straight-ch 7 ain fatty acid
Aromatic fatty acid
– (~6)
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Testosteron C17β e caproate
Hexanoic acid Straight-ch 6 ain fatty acid
1.35
0.75
Testosteron C17β e buciclated
Bucyclic acide
Aromatic carboxylic acid
– (~9)
1.58
0.63
Testosteron – e
–
–
–
1.00
1.00
Mentioned below are direct features of each testosterone ester and how they perform in the body. ⧫ Testosterone Enanthate
Testosterone enanthate is sold under the brand name, delatesteryl and xyosted, and is given either as an intramuscular injection or subcutaneous injection every four weeks. In the United States, it is a schedule III controlled substance and is legal for use amongst those who suffer from low testosterone levels and in transgender males. In Canada, the same testosterone ester is a schedule IV controlled substance. Testosterone enanthate is metabolized in the liver and is excreted in the urine, with a half-life of four days to five days. ⧫ Testosterone Cypionate
Testosterone cypionate is the most commonly used testosterone ester that is sold under the brand name depo testosterone. It is slightly on the pricier side when bought with the brand name however, the generic forms of the testosterone ester are almost half of the price of depo testosterone. Testosterone cypionate is also used for males with low testosterone levels and for athletes in USA and Canada, it is a schedule II controlled substance and a schedule IV controlled substance accordingly. Given as an intramuscular injection only, Testosterone cypionate is metabolized in the liver and excreted in both, urine and feces, although the urine concentration of the ester’s inactive metabolites is significantly higher. It has a half-life of 8 days. ⧫ Testosterone Propionate
Sold under the brand name, testoviron, Testosterone propionate is a testosterone ester that is administered either through intramuscular injection or via the buccal route of administration. Much like the esters above, 10
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Testosterone propionate is also a schedule III controlled substance and a schedule IV controlled substance in USA and Canada, respectively. The half-life of testoviron is 20 hours, and once metabolized in the liver, testosterone propionate is excreted primarily and completely in the urine. ⧫ Testosterone Sustanon 250
Sustanon 250 or Sustanon 100 is an intramuscular injection that is prepared with the combination of four different testosterone esters, namely, testosterone phenylpropionate, testosterone decanoate, testosterone isocaproate, and testosterone propionate. It is a 1 ml oil preparation that contains 250 mg of the testosterone esters mentioned here. Sustanon is widely used in Great Britain as testosterone replacement and is also the one that is mostly preferred by bodybuilders and athletes. ⧫ Testosterone Phenylpropionate
Sold under the brand name testolent, testosterone phenylpropionate is a testosterone ester that is also known as Testosterone phenpropionate and Testosterone hydrocinnamate. It used to be a component of the Sustanon 250 mentioned above which now only contains testosterone isocaproate. It used to be widely distributed in Great Britain and Romania, as an active ingredient in several products that also contained other testosterone esters. However, it is not marketed or distributed as much currently and is used mostly for research purposes. ⧫ Testosterone Decanoate
Testosterone decanoate is not sold as a single testosterone ester preparation but is rather a component of Sustanon preparation along with testosterone isocaproate and testosterone phenylpropionate. This ester is being studied currently due to its long duration of action however, its lack of ability to act as a single-drug preparation hinders its effect. ⧫ Testosterone Isocaproate
Testosterone isocaproate is sold under the brand name Sustanon 250 or Sustanon 100. It is available as an intramuscular injection that is metabolized and excreted in the urine. ⧫ Testosterone undecanoate 11
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Sold under the brand name Andriol and Aveed, testosterone undecanoate, or testosterone undecylate is widely used for its long duration of action. This testosterone ester has a half-life of 21 days when prepared with tea seed oil and roughly 33 days when prepared with castor oil. Testosterone undecanoate is the one with the longest half-life, of all testosterone esters with testosterone decanoate coming in at a second place. Testosterone undecanoate is a schedule III controlled substance and a schedule IV controlled substance in the United States of America and Canada, respectively. Administered as an intramuscular injection, the product is metabolized by the liver and excreted primarily in the urine. Due to the long half-life and the administration dose of 1000 mg, testosterone undecanoate is only administered every 12 weeks.
8. How To Get The Best Testosterone Esters For Bodybuilding? Before deciding on the best testosterone ester for bodybuilding, it is important to understand what the esters do and how they function. Moreover, it is important to determine the personal needs and how much testosterone is required, along with how frequently bodybuilders and athletes are willing to undergo testosterone injections. Once all of this is determined, the search for the best testosterone ester can begin. Testosterone propionate is the most cost-efficient and effective testosterone ester along with sustanon. Bodybuilders are mostly found to trust and swear by these two testosterone esters. In fact, these two are considered to be the best testosterone for bodybuilding however, this is subject to change based on the needs and willingness of the bodybuilder. For further information, a raw steroid supplier can be contacted so that it can be understood which one might be right for you and which ones are the most popular, and why. If testosterone injections are not something you are willing to undergo, other forms of testosterone such as testosterone pills with raw testosterone powder in them can be consumed too. 【Reference】 [1] Apicella CL, Dreber A, Campbell B, Gray PB, Hoffman M, Little AC (November 2008). "Testosterone and financial risk preferences". Evolution and Human Behavior. 29 (6): 384–90. doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2008.07.001. 12
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[2] Hoskin AW, Ellis L (2015). "Fetal Testosterone and Criminality: Test of Evolutionary Neuroandrogenic Theory". Criminology. 53 (1): 54–73. doi:10.1111/1745-9125.12056. [3] Bailey AA, Hurd PL (March 2005). "Finger length ratio (2D:4D) correlates with physical aggression in men but not in women". Biological Psychology. 68 (3): 215–22. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2004.05.001. [4] Meinhardt U, Mullis PE (August 2002). "The essential role of the aromatase/p450arom". Seminars in Reproductive Medicine. 20 (3): 277–84. doi:10.1055/s-2002-35374. PMID 12428207. [5] Waterman MR, Keeney DS (1992). "Genes involved in androgen biosynthesis and the male phenotype". Hormone Research. 38 (5–6): 217–21. [6] De Loof A (October 2006). "Ecdysteroids: the overlooked sex steroids of insects? Males: the black box". Insect Science. 13 (5): 325–338. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7917.2006.00101.x. S2CID 221810929. [7] Guerriero G (2009). "Vertebrate sex steroid receptors: evolution, ligands, and neurodistribution". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1163 (1): 154–68.
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