ANTIAGING NUTRITION: MUSCLE BUILDING
PROHORMONES
Prohormones
A prohormone is a substance that is a precursor to
a hormone, usually having minimal hormonal effect by
itself. Examples of natural, human prohormones include
proinsulin and pro-opiomelanocortin.
For peptide hormones, the conversion process from prohormone
to hormone typically requires multiple processing enzymes.
Benefits of Prohormones
Prohormones have long been used by bodybuilders, athletes,
and in anabolic steroids and other hormones with the
expectation they would convert in the buyers' body to
an active hormone.
A typical prohormone is marketed to the consumer as
a precursor of an anabolic steroid such as testosterone,
to boost the body’s available hormone supply.
These precursors are intended to be converted to full,
active hormones via an enzymatic process that occurs
during metabolism, typically resulting in the addition
of whichever atoms happen to be missing from the chemical
structure of the compound.
The use of prohormones were used instead of synthetic
steroids. Although the results were less dramatic than
steroids, gains in muscular strength and growth of lean
muscle mass were evident.
Studies
Their use remains quite controversial and side effects
are not uncommon. To date most prohormone products have
not been sufficiently studied to determine the term
health effects of prolonged use.
Side Effects
The marketing of prohormones has been riddled with
false representations and deceit. Most "prohormones"
are questionably sold as dietary supplements to avoid
the much tighter efficacy and safety requirements of
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which apply to
prescription hormones.
Prohormones are legally sold in most parts of the world
and are classified in the United States by the FDA as
dietary supplements because they consist of compounds
that occur naturally in the human body. Following the
Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004, prohormones and
anabolic steroids are under the regulation of controlled
substances.
Key Amino Acids for Maximum Performance & Muscle
Building
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