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The term "anabolic" describes any substance that promotes the
building of muscle tissue or the accumulation of nitrogen in muscle
protein.
The normal body is constantly breaking down and removing old
cells and tissues and replacing them with new ones. The process of
break down and removal is medically known as catabolism. Anabolism
is the process that builds up new cells and tissues to replace the
old ones. A normal body has these two processes in balance.
Muscle and bone tissue are thus constantly being replaced, but
there is no net gain or loss of mass in either.
Rigorous exercise is an anabolic activity because it results
in a net increase in muscle mass over time. A high protein diet is
thought by some to be anabolic, although this has not been
conclusively proven.(1,2)
"Anabolic Steroids" cause the build up of muscle tissue under
certain conditions. Testosterone is the body's natural anabolic
steroid. Higher levels of testosterone in men are responsible for
their larger muscle mass compared to women.
At one time, researchers thought that anabolic and androgenic
steroids were different. It was thought that chemists could create
new versions of steroids to build up muscle tissue without causing
masculine side effects.(3) For this reason, drugs in this
sub-class are called both anabolic and androgenic steroids.
However, they discovered that anabolic and androgenic effects were
both caused by the same drug action on different tissue
types.(3,4) Thus, any steroid that builds up muscle
tissue also causes masculinizing side effects.(3-6)
building of muscle tissue or the accumulation of nitrogen in muscle
protein.
The normal body is constantly breaking down and removing old
cells and tissues and replacing them with new ones. The process of
break down and removal is medically known as catabolism. Anabolism
is the process that builds up new cells and tissues to replace the
old ones. A normal body has these two processes in balance.
Muscle and bone tissue are thus constantly being replaced, but
there is no net gain or loss of mass in either.
Rigorous exercise is an anabolic activity because it results
in a net increase in muscle mass over time. A high protein diet is
thought by some to be anabolic, although this has not been
conclusively proven.(1,2)
"Anabolic Steroids" cause the build up of muscle tissue under
certain conditions. Testosterone is the body's natural anabolic
steroid. Higher levels of testosterone in men are responsible for
their larger muscle mass compared to women.
At one time, researchers thought that anabolic and androgenic
steroids were different. It was thought that chemists could create
new versions of steroids to build up muscle tissue without causing
masculine side effects.(3) For this reason, drugs in this
sub-class are called both anabolic and androgenic steroids.
However, they discovered that anabolic and androgenic effects were
both caused by the same drug action on different tissue
types.(3,4) Thus, any steroid that builds up muscle
tissue also causes masculinizing side effects.(3-6)
Always expect the unexpected!
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