Net scan Possible Uses of Nandrolone Decanoate

Fatigue & Lean Body Mass

http://www.ibuprofen-foundation.com/Uses/period-trials.htm
ANABOLIC STEROIDS MAY HELP DIALYSIS PATIENTS FIGHT FATIGUE AND GAIN LEAN BODY MASS Patients with kidney disease frequently experience malnutrition and an accompanying loss of muscle mass as a result of their illness and its lifesaving treatment called dialysis. These negative side effects are particularly concerning because they have been associated with increased mortality. However, a new study indicates that the use of anabolic steroids appears to increase lean body mass and significantly reduce fatigue (another common side effect) in kidney disease patients receiving dialysis. In a randomized, double blind trial, 29 patients were given either the anabolic steroid nandrolone decanote or a placebo (dummy medication) for a six-month period. All of the patients were receiving dialysis treatments at San Francisco General Hospital. At the end of the trial, patients receiving the anabolic steroid gained an average of 5.7 pounds more lean body mass than the patients who got the placebo. Also, the patients who received the steroid reported less fatigue and scored better on physical performance tests. The researchers results are published in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Typically, hemodialysis, the most common form of dialysis process must be repeated three times a week and takes three to four hours. In some cases, dialysis is considered a bridge while the patient is awaiting a kidney transplant which can be up to a three year wait in the US. However for some patients, the blood cleansing procedure is a permanent aspect of their lives. Physicians have tested different therapies to improve the nutritional status of dialysis patients and combat wasting, such as injections of human growth hormone or adding a liquid supplement to the patients blood before it is returned to the body. There are serious drawbacks to the treatments, however, such as dangerous side effects and prohibitive costs. As a result, these therapies are usually restricted to only the very sickest patients. The team settled on nandrolone decanoate, which is sometimes used illicitly (and in much higher doses) by athletes to bulk up. In the past, anabolyic steroids had been used to treat anemia in patients with severe kidney disease but their ability to build lean body mass in dialysis patients had never been tested. According to Johansen, the number of patients requiring dialysis increases approximately seven to nine percent every year and the average age of patients is rising. Johansen says her groups findings indicate nandrolone decanoate therapy may have an important positive impact on the physical capabilities and quality of life for dialysis patients of all ages.

 Craniofacial growth
Article

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/109920662/ABSTRACT? CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Effects of the anabolic steroid nandrolone phenylpropionate on craniofacial growth in rats Kazunobu Noda 1 *, Hong-Po Chang 1 2, Ichiro Takahashi 1, Zennosuke Kinoshita 1, Tatsuo Kawamoto 1 1 Department of Orthodontics, Osaka Dental University, Osaka 540, Japan 2 Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences and Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical College, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 807 * Correspondence to Kazunobu Noda, Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical College, 100 Shih-Chuen 1st Road, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 807 ABSTRACT Primary testosterone and its derivatives are anabolic steroids used in the treatment of osteoporosis and Turner syndrome. They also enhance fast-twitch muscle weight in female rats. The present study examines the effect of an anabolic steroid on craniofacial growth and development in rats. Five-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats (125) were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was injected subcutaneously with 1 mg nandrolone phenylpropionate in the interscapular region on alternate days, whereas those in the control group were injected with a vehicle, arachis oil. Rats were sacrificed at 60 and 120 days of age. Cephalometric analysis of soft X-ray cephalograms showed that chronic administration of the anabolic steroid, nandrolone phenylpropionate, resulted in: (1) about a 20% increase in body weight, (2) an increase in total skull length, (3) elongation of the maxillary and mandibular incisors, (4) an increase in the depth of the antegonial notch, and (5) downward-forward growth of the viscerocranium against the neurocranium. These results suggest that nandrolone phenylpropionate may accelerate craniofacial growth and/or induce high functional activity of the masticatory muscles in female rats. 1994 WileyLiss, Inc.

 HIV + cases
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10199766&dopt=Abstract J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Apr;84(4):1268-76.
Related Articles, Links

Effects of pharmacological doses of nandrolone decanoate and progressive resistance training in immunodeficient patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Sattler FR, Jaque SV, Schroeder ET, Olson C, Dube MP, Martinez C, Briggs W, Horton R, Azen S. Department of Medicine, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles 90033, USA. This nonplacebo-controlled, open label, randomized study was conducted to test the hypotheses that pharmacological doses of nandrolone decanoate would increase lean body tissue, muscle mass, and strength in immunodeficient human immunodeficiency virus-infected men, and that these effects would be enhanced with progressive resistance training (PRT). Thirty human immunodeficiency viruspositive men with fewer than 400 CD4 lymphocytes/mm3 were randomly assigned to receive weekly injections of nandrolone alone or in combination with supervised PRT at 80% of the one-repetition maximum three times weekly for 12 weeks. Total body weight increased significantly in both groups (3.2 +/- 2.7 and 4.0 +/- 2.0 kg, respectively; P < 0.001), with increases due primarily to augmentation of lean tissue. Lean body mass determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry increased significantly more in the PRT group (3.9 +/- 2.3 vs. 5.2 +/- 5.7 kg, respectively; P = 0.03). Gains in strength were of significantly greater magnitude in the PRT group (P < or = 0.005 for all comparisons), even after correction for lean body mass. Thus, pharmacological doses of nandrolone decanoate yielded significant gains in total weight, lean body mass, body cell mass, muscle size, and strength. The increases in lean body mass and muscular strength were significantly augmented with PRT.

 HIV + cases
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, doi:10.1210/jc.2005-0275 The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 90, No. 8 4474-4482 Copyright 2005 by The Endocrine Society http://www.jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/90/8/4474

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Nandrolone Decanoate in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Men with Mild to Moderate Weight Loss with Recombinant Human Growth Hormone as Active Reference Treatment
Thomas W. Storer, Linda J. Woodhouse, Fred Sattler, Atam B. Singh, E. Todd Schroeder, Keith Beck, MaClara Padero, Phong Mac, Kevin E. Yarasheski, Paul Geurts, Arnold Willemsen, Marloes K. Harms and Shalender Bhasin

Objective: We compared the effectiveness of a biweekly regimen of 150 mg nandrolone with placebo in HIV-infected men with mild to moderate weight loss and contrasted its effects against a Food and Drug Administration-approved regimen of recombinant human (rh)GH. Results: Nandrolone administration was associated with a greater increase in LBM (+1.6 0.3 kg) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan than placebo (+0.4 0.3 kg; P < 0.05); however, the change in LBMs with nandrolone was not significantly different from rhGH (+2.5 0.3 kg). Nandrolone administration was also associated with significantly greater gains in fat-free mass (+1.6 0.3 kg), body cell mass (+1.0 0.2 kg), and intracellular water (+0.9 0.2 kg) than placebo; these changes in the nandrolone group were not significantly different from the rhGH group. rhGH administration was associated with greater loss of whole body fat mass and higher frequency of drug-related adverse effects and treatment discontinuations than nandrolone and placebo and a greater increase in extracellular water than nandrolone. Nandrolone treatment was associated with greater improvements in perception of health than rhGH and sexual function than placebo. The cachexia/anorexia scores, health care resource use, and insulin sensitivity did not significantly change. Conclusion: We conclude that nandrolone is superior to placebo and not significantly different from a Food and Drug Administration-approved regimen of rhGH in improving lean body mass in HIV-infected men with mild to moderate weight loss.

 HIV + cases
Modest Benefit of Nandrolone Decanoate for HIV/AIDS Wasting
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2004icr/7thcongress/docs/111904_e.html Despite highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV/AIDS-related wasting, with loss of weight and fat free mass (FFM), remain common problems in people with HIV and especially those that have progressed to AIDS. Effective, inexpensive and easily administered therapies are needed for this difficult to treat condition. An international, multi-center, randomized, placebo controlled trial comparing nandrolone decanoate (ND) with placebo and testosterone (T) was reported by Gold and associates. Three hundred and three (303) adult HIV-positive males with a weight loss of 5-15% in the last 12 months, or a body mass index of 17-19kg/m2, or a body cell mass/height ratio lower than 13.5kg/m were randomized to ND (150mg), T (250mg) or placebo, every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Outcomes were assessed using anthropometry, BIA and biochemical and immunological parameters, including gonadal function. Treatment with ND resulted in a significantly greater increase in FFM of 1.34kg (95%CI 0.60;2.08kg) and weight 1.48kg (0.82;2.14kg) versus placebo. Increases in weight were significantly greater with ND versus T 1.00kg (0.27;1.74) and in QOL; however, the difference in FFM did not reach significance 0.69kg (-0.13;1.51kg). There were no significant differences in adverse events, in immune markers or HIV viral load. The authors conclude, This is the first multi-centre clinical trial of its type which provides important evidence to assist clinicians to manage patients with HIV wasting. Treatment with ND increases body weight when compared with placebo and T. ND treatment results in greater increases in FFM than placebo and demonstrates a trend to a significant increase when compared with T. Another study, by Duncombe and associates, examined the effect of 24 weeks of treatment with ND in three different doses (50 mg, 100 mg or 150 mg by intramuscular injection once every two weeks or placebo) in the prevention or delay of weight loss and on quality of life in HIV-infected male patients. The study was multi-center, randomized, double blind, and placebo controlled. The 91enrolled subjects had experienced 5-15% weight loss, were stable on antiretroviral therapy for a minimum of eight weeks or on no antiretroviral therapy. Efficacy was assessed by mean changes in body weight, LBM and anthropometry. Quality of life was measured using the MOS-SF30 questionnaire. In the ND 150 mg and 100 mg groups, there was a mean increase in LBM from baseline to week 12 and from baseline to week 24 compared to placebo (p<0.05). At week 12 (primary efficacy endpoint), the changes in LBM for subjects receiving placebo or nandrolone decanoate 50mg, 100mg or 150mg were -0.81 kg, -0.13 kg, +0.59 kg and +0.76 kg respectively. There was an increase in mean body weight at week 12 in the ND 150 mg group (+ 0.55 kg), compared to placebo (-1.42 kg) (p<0.05). No dose-related responses were observed in change of quality of life or in CD4 and CD8 cell counts and ND was well tolerated. Based on these data, the authors concluded ND was safe and resulted in increases in body weight and LBM at weeks 12 and 24.

 HIV + cases

Effects of nandrolone decanoate therapy in borderline hypogonadal men with HIVassociated weight loss.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=10048900&dopt=abstract

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1999 Feb 1;20(2):137-46.

Strawford A, Barbieri T, Neese R, Van Loan M, Christiansen M, Hoh R, Sathyan G, Skowronski R, King J, Hellerstein M. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, 94720, USA. Serum testosterone concentrations are frequently in the low-normal range (lowest quartile, <500 ng/dl) in men with AIDS-wasting syndrome (AWS) and in other chronic wasting disorders. The response of patients in this group to androgen treatment has not been determined, however. Eighteen men with AWS (mean +/- standard error [SE]: 87% +/- 1% usual body weight; CD4 count 90 +/- 24) and borderline low serum testosterone concentrations (382 +/- 33 ng/dl) completed a 21day placebo-controlled inpatient metabolic ward study comparing intramuscular (i.m.) placebo (n = 7) with low-dose (65 mg/week; n = 4) and high-dose (200 mg/week; n = 7) nandrolone decanoate, a testosterone analogue. Nitrogen balance, stable isotope-mass spectrometric measurement of de novo lipogenesis (DNL), resting energy expenditure, and gonadal hormone levels were measured. Both low-dose and high-dose nandrolone resulted in significant nitrogen retention (33-52 g nitrogen/14 days, representing gains of 0.5 to 0.9 kg lean tissue/week) compared with placebo (loss of 11 g nitrogen/week). This was reflected biochemically in a borderline significant reduction of high DNL (p < .06). Serum testosterone and gonadotropins were suppressed whereas resting energy expenditure was unchanged by nandrolone treatment. In 10 study subjects completing a 12-week open-label follow-up phase, body weight increased by 4.9 +/- 1.2 kg, including 3.1 +/- 0.5 kg lean body mass, and treadmill exercise performance also improved. In summary, nandrolone decanoate therapy in the absence of an exercise program in borderline hypogonadal men with AWS caused substantial nitrogen retention compared with placebo, similar in extent to the nitrogen retention previously achieved with recombinant growth hormone. It is reasonable to expand the criteria for androgen treatment in AWS to include at least patients in the lowest quartile of serum testosterone.

 HIV + cases

Effects of Nandrolone Decanoate Compared With Placebo or Testosterone on HIVAssociated Wasting

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/524461 J Gold; MJ Batterham; H Rekers; MK Harms; TBP Geurts; PME Helmyr; J Silva de Mendona; LH Falleiros Carvalho; G Panos; A Pinchera; F Aiuti; C Lee; A Horban; J Gatell; P Phanuphak; W Prasithsirikul; B Gazzard; M Bloch; SA Danner for the E-1696 Study Investigators Objectives: Current research is unclear about the most effective pharmacological agents for managing the loss of weight and fat-free mass common in HIV/AIDS. The aim of this study was to compare nandrolone decanoate with placebo and testosterone. Methods: The study was a multicentre randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Three hundred and three adult HIV-positive male patients with a weight loss of 515% in the last 12 months, or a body mass index of 1719 kg/m2, or a body cell mass/height ratio lower than 13.5 kg/m, were randomly assigned to receive nandrolone decanoate (150 mg), testosterone (250 mg) or placebo intramuscularly every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Fat-free mass, weight, immune markers and perception of treatment were the main outcome measures. Results: Treatment with nandrolone resulted in significantly greater increases in fat-free mass [mean increase 1.34 kg; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60; 2.08 kg] and in weight (mean increase 1.48 kg; 95% CI 0.82; 2.14 kg) compared with placebo. The mean increase in weight with nandrolone of 1.00 kg (95% CI 0.27; 1.74 kg) when compared with testosterone was significant, although the difference in fat free mass did not reach significance (mean increase 0.69 kg; 95% CI 0.13; 1.51 kg). Patient perception of benefit was significantly greater in the nandrolone group when compared with both the placebo and the testosterone groups. Conclusions: Treatment with nandrolone decanoate increased body weight when compared with placebo and testosterone. Nandrolone decanoate treatment resulted in greater increases in fat-free mass than placebo and demonstrated a trend for a significant increase when compared with testosterone.

 Effects on weight loss in AIDS patients

The effects of nandrolone decanoate on weight loss and quality of life in male patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome http://www.aegis.com/conferences/hiv-glasgow/2004/PL7-6.html
Int Cong Drug Therapy HIV 2004 Nov 14-18;7:Abstract No. PL7.6 Chris J. Duncombe , Theshinee Chuenyam , Paul T. Geurts , Marloes K. Harms , Praphan Phanuphak The Netherlands Australia Thailand Research Collaboration, Thailand, Bangkok; 2Int. Med. Service, Organon, Oss, The Netherlands This study examined the effects of nandrolone decanoate (ND) on lean body mass (LBM), body weight, quality of life and immune function in subjects with HIV wasting. This was a multi-center, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of the effects of 24 weeks of treatment with ND in three different doses in the prevention or delay of weight loss and on quality of life in HIV-infected male patients. Subjects with 5-15% weight loss, stable on antiretroviral therapy for a minimum of eight weeks or on no antiretroviral therapy, were randomized to receive ND 50 mg, 100 mg or 150 mg by intramuscular injection once every two weeks or placebo. Efficacy was assessed by mean changes in body weight, LBM and anthropometry. Quality of life was measured using the MOS-SF30 questionnaire. 91 subjects were included in the intention to treat analysis. In the ND 150 mg and 100 mg groups, there was a mean increase in LBM from baseline to week 12 and from baseline to week 24 compared to placebo (p<0.05). At week 12 (primary efficacy endpoint), the changes in LBM for subjects receiving placebo or nandrolone decanoate 50mg, 100mg or 150mg were -0.81 kg, -0.13 kg, +0.59 kg and +0.76 kg respectively. There was an increase in mean body weight at week 12 in the ND 150 mg group (+ 0.55 kg), compared to placebo (-1.42 kg) (p<0.05). No dose-related responses were observed in change of quality of life or in CD4 and CD8 cell counts. ND was well tolerated. 15 subjects discontinued the trial due to an adverse event. None of these events were considered to be study drug-related by the investigator ND was safe and resulted in increases in body weight and LBM at weeks 12 and 24

Effects on weight loss as compared to HGH in HIV+ patients

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/90/8/4474 The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Copyright 2005 by The Endocrine Society & Metabolism Vol. 90, No. 8 4474-4482

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Nandrolone Decanoate in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Men with Mld to Moderate Weight Loss with Recombinant Human Growth Hormone as Active Reference Treatment Thomas W. Storer, Linda J. Woodhouse, Fred Sattler, Atam B. Singh, E. Todd Schroeder, Keith Beck, MaClara Padero, Phong Mac, Kevin E. Yarasheski, Paul Geurts, Arnold Willemsen, Marloes K. Harms and Shalender Bhasin Objective: We compared the effectiveness of a biweekly regimen of 150 mg nandrolone with placebo in HIV-infected men with mild to moderate weight loss and contrasted its effects against a Food and Drug Administration-approved regimen of recombinant human (rh)GH. Methods: In this placebo-controlled, randomized, 12-wk trial, placebo and nandrolone (150 mg im biweekly) were administered double blind, and rhGH (6 mg sc daily) was administered in an openlabel manner. Participants were HIV-infected men with 515% weight loss over 6 months and on stable antiretroviral therapy for more than 12 wk. Lean body mass (LBM), muscle performance, physical function, endurance, hormone levels, insulin sensitivity, sexual function, quality of life, and appetite were assessed at baseline and after 12 wk. Results: Nandrolone administration was associated with a greater increase in LBM (+1.6 0.3 kg) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan than placebo (+0.4 0.3 kg; P < 0.05); however, the change in LBMs with nandrolone was not significantly different from rhGH (+2.5 0.3 kg). Nandrolone administration was also associated with significantly greater gains in fat-free mass (+1.6 0.3 kg), body cell mass (+1.0 0.2 kg), and intracellular water (+0.9 0.2 kg) than placebo; these changes in the nandrolone group were not significantly different from the rhGH group. rhGH administration was associated with greater loss of whole body fat mass and higher frequency of drug-related adverse effects and treatment discontinuations than nandrolone and placebo and a greater increase in extracellular water than nandrolone. Nandrolone treatment was associated with greater improvements in perception of health than rhGH and sexual function than placebo. The cachexia/anorexia scores, health care resource use, and insulin sensitivity did not significantly change. Conclusion: We conclude that nandrolone is superior to placebo and not significantly different from a Food and Drug Administration-approved regimen of rhGH in improving lean body mass in HIVinfected men with mild to moderate weight loss.

 HIV + cases

Treatment With Nandrolone Decanoate and Megestrol Acetate in HIVInfected Men http://ncp.aspenjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/20/1/93
Cristina Cuerda, MD*, Ana Zugasti, MD*, Irene Bretn, MD*, Miguel Camblor, MD*, Pilar Miralles, MD and Pilar Garca, MD*

* Nutrition Unit and the Infectious Diseases Service, Hospital General Universitario "Gregorio Maran," Madrid, Spain
Background: Malnutrition, especially loss of lean body mass, is a frequent complication of people living with HIV that may increase their mortality and morbidity. Methods: Nine HIV-infected men with unexplained loss of >10% of their usual weight were selected. They received megestrol acetate (MA) (400 mg/day by mouth) and nandrolone decanoate (ND) (100 mg/15 days intermuscular injection) over 16 weeks. Anthropometric evaluations, bioelectrical impedance, grip strength dynamometry, hematologic, biochemical, immunological and hormonal analysis before, during, and after the treatment were performed. Quality of life was evaluated by the Karnofsky index. Results: In the 7 men that finished the treatment, there were significant increases in weight (11.9 9.1 kg, p < .05), 4-site skinfold measurements (p < .05), midarm circumference (p < .005), and fat-free mass (FFM) (5.1 4.1 kg, p < .05). The increase in fat mass was not statistically significant (6.9 6.4 kg, NS). Muscle strength increased significantly (p < .005). The Karnofsky index values increased from 59% to 73% (p < .05). One patient developed mild hyperglycemia and another one had an increase in aspartate transaminase and -glutamyl transpeptidase that reversed after the treatment. Four patients developed asymptomatic adrenal suppression. Testosterone serum levels decreased significantly during the study (p < .05), and 4 patients had serum values below the normal range at week 16. One patient developed gynecomastia. Conclusions: The combined treatment with MA and ND led to a significant increase in body weight and FFM. Muscle strength and quality of life improved during the study. The treatment was well tolerated with mild side effects.

 HIV + cases
Effectiveness of nandrolone decanoate over placebo in increasing fat free mass, weight and body mass index in HIV-positive males
HIV Medicine Volume 7 Page 146 - April 2006 http://www.medibolics.com/EffectsOfNandroloneStudybyGold.html

This study is the first large multicentre randomized placebo-controlled study to demonstrate the effectiveness of nandrolone decanoate over placebo in increasing fat free mass, weight and body mass index in HIV-positive males with wasting. In addition, fortnightly treatment with 150 mg nandrolone decanoate was superior to fortnightly treatment with 250 mg testosterone for increasing weight, increasing body mass index and (insignificantly) increasing fat-free mass. Subjectively, nandrolone was superior to both placebo and testosterone for improving perception of treatment benefit and recovery from symptoms.

ABSTRACT Objectives Current research is unclear about the most effective pharmacological agents for managing the loss of weight and fat-free mass common in HIV/AIDS. The aim of this study was to compare nandrolone decanoate with placebo and testosterone.

Methods The study was a multicentre randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Three hundred and three adult HIV-positive male patients with a weight loss of 5-15% in the last 12 months, or a body mass index of 17-19 kg/m2, or a body cell mass/height ratio lower than 13.5 kg/m, were randomly assigned to receive nandrolone decanoate (150 mg), testosterone (250 mg) or placebo intramuscularly every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Fat-free mass, weight, immune markers and perception of treatment were the main outcome measures.

Results Treatment with nandrolone resulted in significantly greater increases in fat-free mass [mean increase 1.34 kg; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60; 2.08 kg] and in weight (mean increase 1.48 kg; 95% CI 0.82; 2.14 kg) compared with placebo. The mean increase in weight with nandrolone of 1.00 kg (95% CI 0.27; 1.74 kg) when compared with testosterone was significant, although the difference in fat free mass did not reach significance (mean increase 0.69 kg; 95% CI-0.13; 1.51 kg). Patient perception of benefit was significantly greater in the nandrolone group when compared with both the placebo and the testosterone groups.

Conclusions Treatment with nandrolone decanoate increased body weight when compared with placebo and testosterone. Nandrolone decanoate treatment resulted in greater increases in fat-free mass than placebo and demonstrated a trend for a significant increase when compared with testosterone.

An Adjuvant to Erythropoietin

http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Doi=83891
Use of Nandrolone Decanoate as an Adjuvant for Erythropoietin Dose Reduction in Treating Anemia in Patients on Hemodialysis Hussein Sheashaaa, Waleed Abdel-Razeka, Amr El-Husseinia, Amal Selimb, Nabil Hassana, Tarek Abbasa, Hassan El-Askalanic, Mohamed Sobha

Nephrology Unit, Urology and Nephrology Center; Medical Biochemistry Department, and Internal Medicine Department, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt Nephron Clinical Practice 2005;99:c102-c106 (DOI: 10.1159/000083891) Abstract Background/Aims: Use of androgen as an adjuvant therapy to treat anemia in patients on hemodialysis is debated. Our target is to assess the safety and the efficacy of nandrolone decanoate (ND) as an effective adjunctive therapy to treat such anemia. Methods: This study included 32 anemic adult hemodialysis patients who had adequate iron stores. They were randomized into two equal groups: the first group received subcutaneously a low dose of erythropoietin (EPO) 1,000 U three times weekly combined with ND, 50 mg intramuscularly twice weekly, and the second group received only the same low dose of EPO for the 6-month study period. All patients were subjected to a serial follow-up of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit % (Hct%), iron store indices, serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration and liver function tests. Results: A significant rise of both Hb and Hct in both groups was found at the end of the study (p < 0.001). Although the rise of both Hb and Hct was higher in the androgen group, it was not rated as being statistically significant. Both groups showed a significant rise of serum IGF-1 concentration at the end of the study in comparison to its initial value. Moreover, the androgen group attained a more statistically significant rise of IGF-1 serum concentration. Four female patients discontinued ND because of related adverse effects, principally distressing hirsutism and hepatic dysfunction. Conclusion: Addition of ND to a low-dose EPO regimen does not offer a significant benefit. Androgen-related side effects limit its use in female patients.

Effects on the limbic region

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.0953-816x.2001.01877.x
The anabolic androgenic steroid, nandrolone decanoate, increases the density of Fos-like immunoreactive neurons in limbic regions of guinea-pig brain
Pia Johansson-Steensland,1 Fred Nyberg1 and Loris Chahl2 Abstract The increased abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids is a major concern because of physiological and psychological side-effects. In some individuals they induce dramatic behavioural changes such as increased aggression, anxiety and depression. The mechanisms behind these behavioural changes are still poorly understood. In order to obtain information on the brain regions affected by anabolic androgenic steroids, the distribution of neurons containing c-Fos, the protein product of the immediate early gene c-fos, and Fos-related antigens was studied following chronic treatment of guinea-pigs with a high dose of nandrolone decanoate (15 mg/kg i.m. daily for 14 days). The behaviour of the guinea-pigs was monitored for 1 h each day. Animals treated with nandrolone exhibited a significantly greater incidence of biting behaviour during the 14 day treatment period than vehicle-treated animals. A significantly greater density of c-Fos and Fos-related antigenpositive neurons was found in the central nucleus of the amygdala, and of Fos-related antigenpositive neurons in the frontal cortex, the shell of the nucleus accumbens and the supraoptic nucleus in nandrolone-treated animals than in vehicle controls. Therefore, nandrolone induced Fos in brain regions involved in stress, behavioural responses and reward. The increased Fos expression in these limbic brain regions is of particular interest in relation to the behavioural changes reported in humans who abuse anabolic androgenic steroids and the abuse potential of these drugs.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis
trial of nandrolone decanoate in

Double-blind placebo--controlled postmenopausal osteoporosis

http://www.indianjmedsci.org/article.asp?issn=00195359;year=1998;volume=52;issue=6;spage=236;epage=8;aulast=Chhaparwal;type=0 Chhaparwal M, Saraf ML ,Dept KEM Hospital, Bombay, Correspondence Address: Chhaparwal M Dept KEM Hospital, Bombay [Full text not available ] [PDF Not available]*

 Controlling Weight Loss

Anabolic Steroids for Controlling Weight Loss CLINICAL TRIAL Year : 1998 | Volume : 52 | Issue : 6 | Page : 236-8

: Australian Experience, U.S. Trial by John S. James

Anabolic steroids are best known to the public through the bad press resulting from non-medical use by athletes for muscle building in competitive sports. Unfortunately the resulting controversy has held back legitimate medical research and use of these important drugs. (Anabolic steroids should not be confused with corticosteroids, which have entirely different effects. Recently we called Julian Gold, M.D., at the Albion Street (AIDS) Centre, the major AIDS medical facility in Sydney, Australia, about an unrelated subject (a dose and toxicity study of hypericin, an antiviral). Dr. Gold also told us about the Centre's experience with a trial of low-dose nandrolone decanoate (Deca-Durabolin), an anabolic steroid, for preventing further loss of body weight which has no obvious cause.

We interviewed Dr. Gold, and also called Donald Kotler, M.D., a leading specialist in gastroenterological complications of AIDS, who is now conducting a trial of a different but related anabolic steroid in New York. Interview with Julian Gold, M.D.

ATN: What Durabolin)?

patients

are

you

treating

with

nandrolone

decanoate

(Deca-

JG: We started to use this drug two years ago, at first with patients at very late stages of HIV infection, who had lost considerable body weight, 15 to 20 percent or more. We treated over 30 patients with the injectable Deca Durabolin, using 50 to 100 mg per week. This was not very useful, as after nine months the weight loss continued. In the last year, we have started instead to treat people who have lost between five and ten percent of body weight. We are now using a dose of 100 mg every two weeks.

ATN: So it's just one shot every two weeks? JG: That's right. We have had about 50 people who have used this regimen. The objective is to stabilize weight loss, rather than to have these people put on large amounts of weight -- not to try to replace, because these patients have not lost too much weight. And for this study we chose people who can still eat, and preferably can still get at least minimal exercise, including walking or perhaps they can still go to the gym. We tried to pick people who were just on the precipice, where if nothing were done they would lose a lot of weight. We looked for patients on an adequate and nutritious diet but who still continue to lose weight. They need to have dietary counseling first, before entering the study, to be sure it is not a bad diet that is causing the problem. And they must not have any obvious cause of the weight loss, such as gastrointestinal infections, malabsorption, or untreatable diarrhea.

ATN: Who should not use the drug for safety reasons?

JG: Underlying diabetes or other endocrine problems, or liver disease, would be among the contraindications. But we have now monitored almost a hundred people taking this drug, and we found no adverse effects on liver functions or any of the blood biochemistry; in fact it has improved hemoglobin in some people. We found no adverse effect on HIV antigen or T- helper counts.

ATN: How long have patients been on the new regimen so far.

JG: For 12 months.

ATN: Are any women using it? JG: Deca-Durabolin is a testosterone derivative, which could problems for women. We have not used it in women, but possibly try in the future. We are doing this step by step. cause we may

ATN: Do you have industry support? JG: Our research is sponsored by Organon, is headquartered in the Netherlands. Akzo us. a local branch of Akzo, which makes the drug available to

ATN: What are your future plans? JG: First, we are analyzing our existing data for publication. So far we have only conducted a pilot study, looking at any toxicity or problems. Now we are planning a more structured clinical trial, to give selected people the drug for 26 weeks and monitor more test results than before, including different measures of body composition. Then we will move into a comparative study, possibly comparing this drug with one of the other weight-loss treatments.

The politics of AIDS, together with the politics of anabolic steroids, has meant that we have to go slowly. But we are optimistic; people on the treatment feel better, their appetite improves, and we have not noticed the potential problems like virilizing [masculinizing] effects and excessive muscle gain, because we do not use a high dose.

ATN: Can people contact you for more information? JG: They can contact the Albion Street (AIDS) Centre, in Sydney; phone 61-2-332-1090, fax 332-4219. They can ask for Chris Oliver our clinical nutritionist, or ask for me. Oxandrolone Trial in New York: Interview with Donald Kotler, M.D. To get another perspective on the use of anabolic steroids in AIDS, we spoke briefly with Donald P. Kotler, M.D., at St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York, who is currently running a trial of another anabolic steroid, oxandrolone, and is familiar with the work in Australia.

ATN: How does oxandrolone being used in Australia?

differ

from

the

nandrolone

decanoate

which

is

DK: Both are testosterone derivatives; they differ in strength. Testosterone has both anabolic and androgenic (masculinizing) effects. Because of the androgenic properties, both are largely ruled out in women. Other drugs which have the anabolic effect without the strong androgenic effect might be more suitable for women.

ATN: Why are anabolic steroids being tried for treating HIV? DK: This treatment is supported by a good work? That is what the trials are designed to find out. theory. But does the theory

We know that there are metabolic changes in some AIDS patients that keep the body from holding onto proteins. Anabolics help the body hold onto proteins. But will they actually benefit patients? That needs to be shown.

Our trial compares two doses recruiting 24 patients for the Only one has finished so far.

of oxandrolone to a placebo. We are four-month trial; the 7th started today.

We have seen no side effects at all from the treatment, gain. We are still waiting for body-composition measurements. ATN: Do physicians have controversy around them? trouble prescribing these drugs

and

some

weight

because

of

the

DK: These are controlled drugs in the U.S.; a is required. There is abuse potential, with danger the high doses sometimes used by bodybuilders. ATN: So physicians may clear consensus for their use. be reluctant to prescribe

triplicate to the

prescription liver from

these

drugs,

without

DK: We are pushing to get is, will the experience fit the theory.

the

data

as

soon

as

possible.

The

question

Note to potential volunteers: Dr. Kotler's trial in New York is testing two doses of oxandrolone for the treatment of malnutrition associated with HIV infection. One third of the volunteers will receive a placebo. The trial lasts for four months, and followup treatment will be made available. This trial is sponsored by Gynex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., of Vernon Hills, Illinois. The study includes nutritional intake, muscle strength, quality no cost to the volunteers. assessments, and measurements of life, and immune function. of food There is

If you believe that you are suffering from malnutrition as HIV infection and are interested in volunteering for this call Jodi in Dr. Kotler's office, 212/523-3670.

a result of trial, please

CLINICAL TRIAL Year : 1998 | Volume : 52 | Issue : 6 | Page : 236-8