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Steroid prohormones such as androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
have become popular in recent years as safer alternatives to anabolic steroids,
but two questions need to be answered:
1. Are they effective in stimulating muscle growth?
2. Are they safe to use?
The theory behind prohormones is that they are building blocks for testosterone
and are converted into testosterone by the body. Very little definitive
scientific research exists to back up the claims of prohormone manufacturers.
The difficulty seems to be that the minimum dosage levels recommended by
manufacturers appear to be insufficient to stimulate a measurable clinical
reaction. Many users point to the effectiveness of prohormones when doses that
exceed recommended levels are taken, hence the difficulty for researchers - do
you subject human participants to potentially dangerous doses?
Safety concerns are similar to those that relate to steroids. Some studies
report that side effects can include acne, production of estrogen, development
of breast tissue in males and development of masculine features in females.
At the time of writing some doubts surround the future of prohormones as health
authorities may consider selective banning of some products.
Richard
Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com
website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all
levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding
Advice to learn more about the issues covered in this
article.
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