Cost Comparison Of Anabolic Agents Available
In The United States: Weight Gained Versus Time Versus Cost Per Month
by Michael Mooney
(from Medibolics, #7, October, 1998, updated June, 2000)
Growth Hormone Versus Anabolic Steroids
The following table graphically illustrates the tremendous disparity between
different anabolic compounds for price versus lean body mass gained. One study
showed that nandrolone decanoate delivered as much as 11.88 pounds of lean
body mass (LBM) over 15 weeks, yet it only cost $56 per month. Serostim human
growth hormone (hGH) at a full 6 mg. dose, costs over 100 times more than
nandrolone, but it delivered only a little over half as much LBM over 12 weeks.
Even low doses of other steroids appear to do as well as or better than Serostim
for anabolic activity for much less cost. Note that lean body mass does
not necessarily mean muscle, as LBM includes water, bone, connective tissue
and organs, and the early results of one HIV study
presented in 1999 by Dr. Donald Kotler that used magnetic resonance imaging
to analyze changes in tissue growth showed that Serostim GH did not increase
muscle growth over 12 weeks.
Product - oral (o) or injectable (i)
reference # |
Research study author - year |
Study length
(weeks) |
Number of patients |
Exercise included? |
Dose (mg)., frequency
(every 2 weeks, etc...) |
Average wt. gain |
$/month |
Nandrolone (i) 1 |
Gold '96 |
16 |
17 |
Yes |
100 mg./2 weeks |
6.6 lbs - wt |
$30 |
Nandrolone (i) 2 |
Bucher '96 |
12 |
73 |
No |
100 mg./week |
5 lbs - BCM |
$60 |
Testosterone Enanthate (i) 3 |
Bhasin '96 (non-HIV males) |
10 |
43 |
Yes |
600 mg./ week |
13.42 lbs - LBM |
$100 |
Nandrolone & Testosterone (i) 4 |
Salvato '97 |
12 |
20 |
No |
Escalating- De-escalating 100-700 mg./wk |
13 lbs - wt |
Average $130 |
Nandrolone (i) 5 |
Strawford '97 2 phases |
1rst ph - 3 wks 2nd ph - 12 wks |
18 |
No |
1rst ph - 195 mg./wk (3 wks) then 2nd ph - 200 mg. every
2 wks |
1rst ph - 5.28 lbs LBM + 2nd - 6.6 lbs =
11.88 lbs LBM
|
Average $90 |
Winstrol (o) 6 |
Berger '93 |
10 |
1 |
No |
6 mg./day |
10. lbs - wt |
$72 |
Winstrol (o) 6 |
Berger '93 |
4 |
1 |
No |
6 mg./day |
3.5 lbs - wt |
$72 |
Oxandrin (o) 7 |
Poles '97 |
8 |
21 |
No |
20 mg/day |
6.9 lbs - wt |
$900 |
Serostim hGH 8 |
Schambelan '96 |
12 |
178 |
No |
6 mg/day |
6.6 lbs - LBM |
$6000+ |
Some studies report only total weight, not lean body mass (LBM) or body cell
mass (BCM). Given this, we have presented the limited available data. Note:
BCM is the metabolically active tissue that includes muscle and organs like
the liver, etc. LBM includes BCM, connective tissue, water and bone. Total
weight includes LBM and fat.
References
-
Gold, J, et al. Safety and efficacy of nandrolone decanoate
for treatment of wasting in patients with HIV infection. AIDS (1996) 10(7):745-52
-
Bucher, G, et al. A prospective study on the safety and
effect of nandrolone decanoate in HIV-positive patients. Int Conf AIDS (1996)
11(1):26. Abstract No. Mo.B.423.
-
Bhasin, S, et al. The effect of supraphysiological doses
of testosterone on muscle size and strength in normal men. N Engl J Med
(1996) Jul 4; 335(1):1-7.
-
Salvato, P et al. Abstract # 0-003, Conference on Nutrition
and HIV Infection, Cannes, France, April 23-24, 1997.
-
Strawford, A, et al. Effects of nandrolone decanoate (ND)
on nitrogen balance, metabolism, body composition and function in men with
AIDS wasting syndrome (AWS). 2nd International Conf Nutri & HIV Inf Cannes,
France (1997) p.267.
-
Berger, JR, et al. Effect of anabolic steroids on HIV-related
wasting myopathy. So Med J (1993) Aug; 86(8):865-866.
-
Poles, MA, et al.
Oxandrolone as a treatment for AIDS-related weight loss and wasting. 4th
Conf Retro and Opportun Infect. (1997) Jan 22-26:193 (Abstract No. 695).
-
Schambelan, M, et al. Recombinant human growth hormone
in patients with HIV-associated wasting. Ann Intern Med (1996) 125(11):873-882.
|
