HealthMedicine

Medicine and bodybuilding. Elevated androstenedione

Androstenedione refers to male sex hormones. This androgen is a precursor of testosterone. In men, its production occurs, mainly in testicles. In women, 60% of androstenedione is the result of peripheral changes, 40% are produced in the adrenal and ovaries. In representatives of the weaker sex, the rate of formation and secretion of this hormone is higher than that of testosterone, and an extra-adrenal transformation of it into testosterone is largely expressed.

The level of androstenedione is determined in the DHEA-C and DHEA complex. This is necessary for diagnostic purposes and for evaluating the therapeutic effect in hyperandrogenic conditions.

Elevated androstenedione in the blood test is characteristic for patients with hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex of an innate nature. In addition, a high rate is detected with Isenko-Cushing syndrome, testicular stromal hyperplasia or neoplasm in the ovary, as well as ectopic ACTH secretion.

Elevated androstenedione is noted in patients with hirsutism and polycystic ovary.

In medical practice, the determination of serum hormone concentration is widely used in monitoring the effectiveness of therapeutic measures with the use of glucocorticoids in congenital hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex, as it is considered the most accurate indicator than other androgens.

Not elevated androstenedione, but on the contrary, its reduced content indicates the presence of sickle-cell anemia. Pathology develops against the background of ovarian and adrenal insufficiency.

Androstenedione. When to take the test?

Indications for the study are:

- control of treatment and diagnosis of hyperandrogenic conditions;

- violations of reproductive function against the background of hormonal failure;

- treatment with glucocorticoids.

Special attention is given to androstendione by people engaged in professional bodybuilding. It is believed that the hormone and drugs with its content contribute to the increase in muscle mass. However, this is not always the case.

Androstenedione is the main hormone of the adrenal glands and can be converted into either testosterone or estrogen. In the first case, its transformation is stimulated by a certain enzyme. It should be noted that in the steroid chain of transformations, androstenedione is closer to testosterone than DHEA. This causes its greater potential for transformation. Thus, testosterone, obtained with the background of the conversion of androstenedione, under the action of another enzyme, can pass into dehydrotestosterone. This, in turn, contributes to the development of many unpleasant consequences. Dehydrotestosterone provokes both hair loss of the head, and enlargement of the prostate gland, as well as excessive growth of hair on the body and face. In addition, it does not have anabolic properties, so it has no effect on muscle mass. Thus, when androstenedione is elevated, there is a possibility of an increase in the concentration of dehydrotestosterone.

In addition to the above consequences, there is another complication - gynecomastia. Breast growth provokes conversion of testosterone to estradiol (aromatization).

Despite the assurances of advertisers that elevated androstenedione greatly influences muscle growth, if taken correctly, hormonal "manipulations" are often an unpredictable and complex process. It should also be remembered that the increase in testosterone levels with hormonal drugs undoubtedly affects the system that controls the production of sex steroids.

Today, androstenedione and its effect on humans have not been studied enough. In addition, when taking these or other hormonal drugs must take into account the characteristics of each organism. For example, in some, increasing the concentration of androstenedione has a beneficial effect on the growth of muscle mass, while in others it causes serious problems.

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