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by Patrick Arnold
Pat is responsible for launching several major product and innovation in the prohormone industry
through LPJ Research and
Ergopharm, including the first to release androstenedione, 1-AD, 6-OXO, 4-androstenediol, and 19-norandrostenediol. In addition, he is responsible for bringing innovative delivery systems to the prohormone market including HPB cyclodextrin, bioadhesive technology for sustained release, and sustained release sprays.
Publication Date: July 19, 1999
Subject: Androstenedione and Estrogen
Dear Pat,
I've been reading Tim Patterson's
comments over at
Testosterone.net and he claims that one of his sources, "Deep
Throat" as he calls him, has evidence that a major supplement
company is suppressing studies that the andro products convert more
to estrogen than they do to testosterone.
That man has "evidence" for everything short of the disappearance of
JFK, Jr.
I just sent an e-mail to him
challenging him to produce the studies, or to do some of his own and
try and duplicate the results that he claims were achieved in these
other studies. I'm a bit skeptical and tend to think that maybe he's
coming down so hard on the andro products because Biotest doesn't
sell any andro products. What is your opinion on the conversion of
andro to estrogen?
I can't understand some people's motivations and why their attitudes
change week to week on things.
I would guess that androstenedione aromatizes the most, followed by
norandrostenedione. Androdiol and Norandrodiol both must first
convert to testosterone and nortestosterone respectively, before
aromatization can occur.
Subject: Impossible to Gain Weight?
Would you please help me? I am 36 and
130 lbs. and workout 3 times a week. I also take supplements from
time to time, but is almost impossible to gain any weight. What is
that I am doing wrong? Please help. I get very discouraged. Thank
you.
You may want to try a prohormone supplement for a while. Since it
seems most everything else has failed. Androdiol is inexpensive and
at doses of 300 to 600mg a day you may see some change. Try to
divide your doses into 3 a day, each with meals. Good luck
Subject: Drug Isomers and Bioactivity
Patrick
Isn't it true thought that some isomers can have toxic side effects,
for example, the morning sickness drug given in the 70's - one was
active, one toxic. L-Dopa. which is used to treat Parkinson disease,
one isomer has side effects. There are many more examples in which
chiral drugs depending upon the (S) or (R) isomer that one is
beneficial the other is toxic.
John
Yes John. So what? Isomers of a same chemical structure often have
different effects from one another. One example is methamphetamine;
the d-isomer will get you high and speeded out while the l-isomer
(active ingredient in Vick's inhalers) is useful mostly only to
clear your nostrils.
In the case of 4-androstenediol, neither 3alpha or 3beta isomers are
toxic, nor do they differ much in bio-activity. Those are the facts
supported by research.
Subject: Does Androdiol Convert to DHT?
Dear Patrick,
I recently read an article you wrote
about prohormones ("Prohormones,
All You Need To Know"), where you said:
"Well, unlike androstenedione,
which can readily convert to DHT and its derivatives (5-alpha
reduced compounds), 4-AD doesn't convert to DHT. It can't."
I was interested in this because I've
been looking for the most powerful prohormone I can take that won't
cause excessive hair loss.
A few days later, however, I came
across a
Q&A session that quoted you as saying:
"4-androstenediol is a much better
precursor to testosterone than 5-Androstenediol so it should
thereby increase DHT levels to a higher extent and exacerbate
hair loss more."
I'm a little confused. If 4-AD can't
convert to DHT, does it indirectly raise DHT levels through some
other method? Basically, though, I'd just like to know how great the
risk of hair loss is with 4-AD. I'm currently taking
19-Norandrostenediol, but I'd like to add 4-AD if the risks aren't
too great.
What I said is that 4-AD cannot directly 5-alpha reduce. However
after it converts to testosterone, that testosterone can then
convert directly to DHT.
I would stick to the nor version if you are overly concerned about
hair loss.
Subject: Testosterone propionate for a Beginner
Hi Pat,
I just got my hands on testosterone propionate, I've never done
steroids before and the person I bought them from tells me do inject
600 mg a week to start. And to divide it in two days a week. I told
him I'm looking to stay pretty moderate. So what I need to know if
this is how much I have to take to see good results or can I do
400mg a week and still see good results. There's not much info on
propionate like there is on Deca, Winstrol, and d-ball. So I could
use the help. thanks a lot.
Jim
Being a novice to steroids you could probably take 300mg a week and
see great results. If you choose to do cycles later on then you
can use higher dosages. However there is no point to go all out the
first time around.
Subject: Diminished Effects After First Cycle
In 1997 I used 13 amps of G.H. ( Saizen
from Sereno ) , and I could not believe in it's effects - it was
amazing! I lost more fat than I lost in my whole life, my strength
went up like crazy, I got much more vascularity, and I gained some
good muscles . But in 1998, I used it again twice (in January and
in July). It was the same G.H. and the same quantity, but the the
results could not even be compared to the first cycle that I did in
1997. I want to know if this is normal? Why did I get outstanding
results in my first cycle and now I use this and basically nothing
happens? Is there something I can do about it? I want to use GH
again but I want to have the effects I had on my first cycle! What
can I do to achieve this?
Unfortunately it is normal for a lot of bodybuilding drugs,
steroids to some extent, and clenbuterol to a LARGE extent.
One last question: When I use GH, I cut
out all the sugar in my diet, including orange juice and anything
that contains any type of sugar. Tell me please, am I right or wrong
to do this?
Victor
GH tends to raise one's blood sugar and make one pre-diabetic
sometimes so eliminating simple carbs might be a wise thing to do.
However for some that are not dieting and trying to bulk up they eat
the simple carbs in a high calorie diet and take insulin along with
it. This is tricky business and potentially dangerous however.
Subject: Naturally-Occurring Plant Sterols
I want to know what is in fact Natural
Sterol Complex; what are its advantages, side effects, how does it
work, and does it have anything to do with steroids?
What is in that product? Probably beta-sitosterol and a slew of
other naturally occurring plant sterols. These products are
essentially worthless for any bodybuilding purposes. They resemble
anabolic steroids vaguely because of a shared 4 member ring
structure. Biologically however they are totally different.
Subject: Testosterone Esters
I am writing to you to see if you could
shed some light for me on Primoteston and Omnadren. How powerful
and safe are they compared to other steroids? And would it be a good
idea to use it with testosterone enanthate?
For all intents and purposes those three testosterone ester
products are about the same.
Subject: Cyclodextrins and Glutamine Peptides
Hi Pat!
I just noticed that Sport's One has
released a series of cyclodextrin products. Is LPJ associated with
the Sport's One product? I heard that LPJ will be providing the
product to various companies. Is Sport's One included? Can you tell
me which companies are included?
LPJ does not manufacture cyclo products for Sports One. Sports
One cyclo products are made from beta-cyclodextrin which is much
less water soluble and makes an inferior product to hydroxypropyl-beta-
cyclodextrin (HPBCD). LPJ uses HPBCD for its cyclo products.
Companies that carry LPJ cyclo products are OSMO, Supertech, Kaizen,
and Ergopharm.
Speaking of glutamine peptides, do you
know of a quality source where I can obtain the pure peptide form.
Glutamine, no matter how pure, is suppose to be hydrophillic and
breaks down to ammonia- either on the shelf or on its way to the
stomach (because of the moisture). Also can you indicate which other
singular aminos are hydrophilic. I already know ALC is very- I had
to throw out 3 bottles of the powdered form because it turned rock
solid. Does this mean ALC is ineffective orally because of the
moisture in the mouth and stomach? Maybe a hardened pill form is
better than either powder or capsule (in this case).
The correct scientific term for a substance that attracts and
binds water is hygroscopic. Many aminos are hygroscopic as are many
peptides. Some turn hard when they pick up the water. However,
unless the substance is reactive with water (like glutamine), it
should still be good to consume.
Subject: Steroids and Fat Loss
Dear Mr. Arnold,
My name is Ken & I'm 19 years old, 5'9, 260lbs. I've been working
out on & off for about 4 years and I have definition in my biceps
and traps but have fat everywhere else. I am considering investing
in one cycle of Deca-Durabolin or Cytomel just to get rid of the
fat. I am trying to find a steroid with the minimum amount of side
effects, moderately high muscle gain and high fat loss. Can you
please give me your opinions on which ones might do this for me, or
any other opinions?
Steroids do not cause fat loss. They can only preserve muscle
mass during caloric restriction. Bodybuilders in the cutting phase
generally use non-aromatizable steroids such as Primobolan,
trenbolone, Winstrol, or Anavar.
What you have to be most concerned with is your diet and high
activity level (aerobics can help). Good luck!
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