17 alkylated androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) is a class of synthetic derivatives of testosterone, which have undergone a specific modification (methylation).
This enables oral steroids to sustain the first entrance to the liver.
However, this fact stresses hepatic parenchyma, thus elevating liver enzymes known as transaminases (alanine transaminase -ALT/SGOT and aspartate transaminase-AST/SGPT).
17 alkylated AAS include:
1) stanozolol (both oral and injectable form)
2) oxymetholone
3) methandienone (there was an injectable form by Ciba)
4) oxandrolone
5) fluoxymesterone
6) methyltrienolone
They are not aromatized at all, except methandienone-methandrostenolone, perhaps the most widely abused AAS pill.
They are powerful anabolic agents, while during dieting period they have a strong anti-catabolic effect.
They also provide necessary aggressiveness during training, especially in periods of harsh dieting.
Their main side effects include:
– distortion of atheromatic index and the lipoproteins ratio (HDL/LDL cholesterol).
The main reason for the reduction of high density lipoprotein (HDL), is the stimulation of a protein (endothelial hepatic triglyceride lipase), responsible for the transfer of HDL to the liver.
– pharmaceutical hepatitis, followed by transaminasemia (ALT/AST-SGPT/SGOT).
These elevations are usually asymptomatic, transient and return to baseline levels within several weeks after cessation.
Such elevations have been most closely linked to fluoxymesterone and oxymetholone.
Recently, studies demonstrated that GGT, ALP are the most distinctive enzymes (cholestatic) for the detection of hepatic dysfunction (jaundice).
Whenever we combine two or more 17 alkylated orals (stanozolol, oxymethelone, methyltrienolone, methandrostenolone), it is advisable to use them sublingually, i.e. under the tongue.
By this method, we avoid and bypass the first entrance to liver metabolism, the substance does not affect directly the liver and less liver strain occurs.
Instead, they are rapidly absorbed by the tiny capillary network under the tongue, thus entering circulation and bloodstream.
Pharmacokinetics is more immediate this way.
Since 17 alkylated orals are responsible of atheromatic index distortion, their abuse may lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Moreover, blood coagulation is distorted, since clotting factors which are synthesized in the liver, are disturbed.
Prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) are prolonged.
It should be noted that the bleeding tendency accounts for increased risk of morbidity and mortality in AAS abusers.