Introduction To Prohormones: Androstendione, 1-Test, 1 AD, M1T, Methyl D And More!
Before I begin this article on prohormones (including 1-Test, 1 AD, M1T, androstendione and more), let me first say this…
The “legal loophole” that allowed these products to be sold legally on the market in the U.S. has been closed as of January 2005! In other words, if you are thinking about using any of the aforementioned products, you are considering the use of an illegal steroid (I’m not standing in moral judgment here—I just feel its important you recognize the legal status of these products).
Just so you know, there is one “prohormone” that is excepted from this rule; DHEA. As such, you’ll see some retailers spinning their DHEA-containing products as the last “legal steroids” available, and warn you that should you use their product, you’ll need to go shopping for a new wardrobe. This is complete silliness, of course. Evidence indicates it does not boost testosterone levels in men, although it may have other “non-bodybuilding related benefits.”
OK, with that out of the way…
Baseball legend Mark McGuire brought prohormones (specifically androstendione, or “andro”), into the spotlight in 1998 — the year he slugged in 70 home runs — and they’ve been causing quite a controversy ever since.
Dubbed “legal steroids”, prohormones are inactive precursors of both prominent male and female hormones — estrogen and testosterone. Body builders are only interested in supplements that increase testosterone, as elevated levels lead to greater and faster muscle growth. In theory, therefore, supplementing with prohormones should provide your body with more of the raw materials required to create testosterone.
It all sounds like it makes sense, correct?
Yup, but early studies weren’t exactly convincing. A study on androstendione published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that it neither raised serum testosterone levels, nor contributed to enhanced muscle growth. What it did do is have a negative effect on cholesterol levels, lowering HDL levels, and increasing LDL levels.
Other prohormones may lead to positive readings for drug tests (norandrostenediol and norandrostenedione convert in the body to nandrolone — a banned steroid).
Personal experience with these “legal” steroids?
I was lucky enough to partake in an impromptu 8 week study testing the effectiveness of andro products. I was using EAS’ now discontinued Andro 6, which contained 2 prohormones (DHEA and androstendione), tribulis, plus 2 ingredients to counteract estrogen conversion – chrysin and indole-3-carbinol, and saw palmetto for prostate health.
I took the product exactly as directed, and had blood tests every two weeks. The entire test was monitored by a sports physician, and I checked in with him every couple of weeks (I can’t identify him, as at the time of this test, androstendione had just been labeled “illegal” in Canada).
The results?
According to the blood work, increases in serum testosterone levels were minimal enough to be considered “negligible”, bearing out the test results of the American Medical Association. The only thing that surprised the supervising physician was that my cholesterol profile (the ration of HDL to LDL), actually improved, something not seen in other tests (in fairness, EAS’ product is a blend of 6 ingredients, and other tests focused mainly on androstendione, so it may have been the combination of ingredients that led to the improved cholesterol profile).
As far as training went, I noticed no improvements in strength or performance of any kind. Initially however, I did notice an increase irritability and aggression which only lasted a few days, after which I noticed nothing at all.
Later experimentation with products like Nortesten, AndroPoppers, and variations of nor-based andros have led me to believe most prohormones are a complete waste of money (incidentally, this is echoed by supplement guru Will Brink in his excellent publication, Bodybuilding Revealed).
Androstendione and norandrostendione are both pretty much “old hat” products in the world of prohormones now. Since they were released several much more potent have been developed. These include 1-Test, M1T (a methylated version of 1-Test), Methyl-D, and ErgoPharm’s 1-AD (now discontinued, of course).
Are prohormones safe?
Having being developed only recently, there is very little scientific evidence that either verifies these products effectiveness, or their safety. One study — Toxicol Lett. 2006 Aug 20;165(2):149-55. Epub 2006 Apr 18 — makes it very clear: 1-Test—a relatively new prohormone— is a “potent androgen with anabolic properties.”
1-Test also makes it into William Llewellyn’s Anabolic’s 2004. He calls it “one of the newest and most controversial steroids to be brought to our attention in the bodybuilding world.”
‘Nuff said.
These products took the bodybuilding world by storm. And not surprising. After all, they were legal, potent, accessible to everyone, and most had very little capability of being converted to estrogen (meaning your chances of getting gynecomastia, or “bitch tits” from the use of prohormones are minimal).
They are also oral steroids — meaning the everyday bodybuilder could use them without the inconvenience of regular intramuscular injections.
Of course, since they are oral steroids they are also hepatoxic — they place a strain on your liver. Some, like M1T, place one heckuva strain on your liver.
For that reason, prohormone use should always be accompanied with a good silymarin (milk thistle) product, as well as a couple of potent antioxidants like n-acetyl-cysteine and alpha lipoic acid (ALA).
And you must always cycle off these products every four weeks for a minimum of four weeks.
Of the aforementioned products, the only one I have tried for any length of time is ErgoPharm’s 1-AD (which converts to 1-Test in the body). After reading some posts from ErgoPharm’s Patrick Arnold at Google Groups, I opted for 1-AD at 6 capsules per day (twice the label recommendations), 5 days on, two days off for 1 month.
Strength and muscle gains were pretty phenomenal, and VERY noticeable. I gained about 10 pounds in a month, but ended up losing about 75% of that within 4-6 weeks of completing the cycle. The one very undesirable effect I noticed with 1-AD was vastly increased irritability. I didn’t find it particularly enjoyable to be on 1-AD for this very reason, as it’s not pleasant to feel annoyed all the time.
For that reason, I haven’t used 1-AD again (although the effects may be more bearable at a lower dosage). Nonetheless, it certainly worked wonders, and it was fantastic to see pretty significant strength gains on a week-to-week basis.
I also briefly experimented with M1T, but caught the flu just as I was beginning the cycle and had to curtail my usage. The next time I tried experimenting with it, I got outrageously bad acne so I stopped taking it within 3 days.
I must caution anyone who is considering the use of these now-illegal supplements…
The complete safety of prohormones has not been established, and if you wish to experiment please keep your cycles short, and stay off them as long as you are on. Be sure to supplement with milk thistle and ALA when using a prohormone to prevent liver damage.
Also, don’t expect even the best prohormones to replace a good training and nutrition program. If you don’t eat or train properly, prohormones are a short-term Band-Aid solution at best.
