Have you ever used oral Anabolic Steroids such as Dianabol, Anadrol,
Winstrol, Halotestin, etc.? What about over the counter pro-hormones like
Pheraplex, Halodrol, Superdrol, etc.? If so, your health could be in serious
trouble. All of these products, (and more), can cause serious liver toxicity.
The three main types of hepatotoxicity seen clinically from the use of oral
steroids include intrahepatic cholestasis, peliosis hepatis, and hepatic
adenoma. None of them are pretty and can lead to serious health problems such as
jaundice, heart disease, liver failure, cancer or even death.
There is however some very good news concerning all of this. Interestingly,
all three of these toxicities are believed to be related, stemming from
cholestasis. Cholestasis occurs when the 17-hydroxyl group of the oral steroid
enters the liver and it becomes glucuronidated, slowing down bile flow and
sometimes stopping it completely, this slowing of bile is the cause of all the
previously mentioned liver problems from oral steroid use. The active ingredient
in Liver Longer� is a noncompetitive inhibitor of steroid glucuronidation,
research has shown the ingredient in Liver Longer� will prevent the slowing of
bile passing through the liver and thus prevent toxic metabolites from being
formed. In addition Liver Longer� may increase the excretion of any glucuronide
metabolites that do get formed, so they will not be around long enough in the
liver to start down regulating any bile acid transporters that could lead to
disease.
Thermolife Liver Longer� from ThermoLife International is a breakthrough product,
specifically targeting steroid toxicity, and is not a run of the mill liver
protector. Liver Longer� was developed to prevent the formation of toxic steroid
metabolites, reverse the toxic actions of the metabolites that do get formed and
speed the elimination of the metabolites from the liver. If you have recently
taken any oral anabolic steroid, either in an over the counter supplement or
pharmaceutical (black market) form, you need to be taking Liver longer� to
protect your self. ThermoLife International is the first and only company to
bring this unique product to market. Get yours today and Liver Longer Life!
Thermolife Liver Longer (more technical information):
Anabolic steroids have a reputation for being very harmful for people to
use. In reality, the side effects of anabolic steroid use are generally
overstated by the media and also by most healthcare professionals. The common
protocol is to throw out a laundry list of side effects to describe the �evils�
of steroid use. While steroids are neither deadly nor harmless, some are better
than others with regards to health. Specifically, steroids that are modified at
the 17-alpha position with an alkyl group are responsible for the majority of
negative side effects attributed to steroids in general. Although these steroids
are sometimes injected, they are commonly considered oral steroids.
|
Examples of oral 17-alpha alkylated
steriods: |
|
Supplement products: � Desoxymethyltestosterone (Pheraplex�) �
4-chloroandrostenediol (Halodrol 50�) � Methylmasteron
(Superdrol�) |
|
Illicit products: � Dehydromethyltestosterone (Dianabol) �
Oxymetholone (Anadrol 50) � Stanazolol (Winstrol) �
Methyl-1-testosterone � Fluoxymesterone (Halotestin) � Mibolerone (Cheque
drops) |
The good:
For bodybuilders and athletes,
oral steroids are able to sneak past the liver to get into the bloodstream. This
is good and bad thing, however. It�s good because this allows the ingested
steroid to remain active after passing through the liver. This is in contrast to
non-modified steroids, which are rapidly metabolized to inactive steroids. The
modification becomes advantageous for those who do not use injectable steroids
or who wish to add additional types or amounts of steroids to an injectable
protocol.
The bad:
The downside to the alkyl
modification of the steroid is that it allows for the steroid to become liver
toxic. The reason the modified steroids become liver toxic is because the
steroid is able to form 17-glucuronide metabolites.6 These metabolites are the
culprits when it comes to oral steroid liver toxicity.
The ugly:
There are three main types of
hepatotoxicity seen clinically from the use of oral steroids. These include
intrahepatic cholestasis, peliosis hepatis, and hepatic adenoma. Cholestasis is
the most common side effect seen, with peliosis and adenoma being much less
common. Cholestasis occurs when bile flow through the liver is impaired. When
this happens, products that are normally carried in the bile to the gut and
excreted begin to build up within the liver. These products can reach toxic
levels and cause cell damage and death. Monitoring for liver enzymes such as AST
and ALT could detect if damage was occurring in the liver. Cholesterol
metabolism becomes impaired as a result of cholestasis, with an increase in LDL
(Bad cholesterol) and decrease in HDL (Good cholesterol).2 These cholesterol
changes may lead to an increased risk of heart disease, and are very common with
oral steroid use. HDL below 10ng/dl is not uncommon to hear about. That�s bad
considering the desired level is greater than 40ng/dl! Finally, jaundice may
occur. What essentially occurs is a buildup of bilirubin, which is formed when
red blood cells break down. Since it cannot be excreted in the bile, it
essentially backs up into the body and causes a yellowing of skin and eyes. This
is not something you want to see!
Peliosis hepatis is characterized by blood filled cavities within the liver.
Rupture of these cavities may lead to death or liver failure. Hepatic adenoma
usually presents as a benign tumor, which may become malignant or interfere with
hepatic function as well.
There is some very good news concerning all of this. Interestingly, all three
of these toxicities are believed to be related.6 Cholestasis, over time and left
unchecked, is believed to lead to the more serious side effects.5,6 It�s a
progression that can occur over time with prolonged use. This also means that if
you could prevent cholestasis, you could prevent the complications from that, in
addition to the other risks as well!
Can it be done? We believe it can be done!.
Thermolife LIVER LONGER� specifically addresses steroid toxicity in several unique ways.
While there are other good �liver protector� products available, they are more
for general liver health than anything. What sets this product apart is that it
is SPECIFICALLY for promoting healthy liver function in the presence of oral
steroids.
So how, specifically, do oral steroids cause cholestasis, and thus toxicity?
As the steroid enters the liver, it becomes glucuronidated. This means a
glucuronic acid molecule is attached to the 17-hydroxyl group of the steroid.
The intended purpose of this is to make the steroid more water soluble so it can
be excreted in the urine. That is what is supposed to happen, but these
glucuronides tend to accumulate in the liver, where they are believed to act
upon orphan receptors to cause a down regulation of bile acid transporters.1,6
Bile acid transporters are the most important factor for bile flow in the liver,
and when these transporters disappear because of the steroid, bile flow stops
and trouble starts.
If you had cholestasis and you went to the doctor, you would probably get a
prescription for a drug called Ursodiol. This is the brand name for the bile
salt ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). UDCA would not be a bad choice for prevention
of toxicity, but there are a few problems. First, it requires a prescription
because it�s a drug. Second, even if you found some on the black market, it�s
awfully expensive.
Fortunately, there is a better choice. The substance in question is
tauroursodeoxycholic acid or TUDCA for short. It is the taurine conjugate of
UDCA. TUDCA is an endogenous bile acid accounting for a small percent of the
bile found in the human body. It has been used traditionally as well, being
found in bear gall bladders, to treat liver disorders for many years.
TAUROURSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID (TUDCA)
There are multiple ways TUDCA aids in normal liver function. First, this bile
acid acts to restore bile acid transporters. Doing this allows bile to flow
normally via these transporters. Not only that, but it also acts to prevent
formation of the toxic steroid glucuronides in the first place. A 2003 study
showed that TUDCA noncompetitive inhibitor of steroid glucuronidation in vivo
and in vitro.3 This means fewer toxic metabolites will be made in the first
place! As if that one-two combination was not good enough, TUDCA may increase
the excretion of any glucuronide metabolites that do get formed, so they will
not be around long enough in the liver to start down regulating any bile acid
transporters.4
So you can see this product is extremely targeted toward steroid toxicity,
and is not a run of the mill liver protector. It helps prevent the formation of
toxic steroid metabolites, reverses the toxic actions of the metabolites that do
get formed, and speeds the elimination of the metabolites from the liver.
While we do not advocate the use of steroids, the reality of it is that many
people use these products, often without medical supervision. A product such as
Liver Longer would be extremely valuable as a health protective measure to
anyone who did choose to use oral steroids, whether they are legal dietary
supplement or illicit black market or prescription
products.
Liver Longer Supplement Facts:
Serving Size: 1 Tablet
Servings Per Container: 60
Amount Per Serving:
Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA): 250mg
Other Ingredients:
Calcium phosphate, sipernat 22, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, film coating.
Directions: As an adult dietary supplement take one (1) tablet twice daily with meals.
Warnings: Do not exceed recommended dosage. Keep out of reach of children.
Reference:
- J Clin Gastroenterol. 2005 Apr;39(4 Suppl 2):S111-24.
- Clin Chim Acta. 1996 Jan 15;244(1):1-15.
- J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2003 Jul;306(1):279-86.
- Scand J Gastroenterol. 1997 Sep;32(9):947-52.
- Histopathology. 1977 Jul;1(4):225-46.
- Int J Sports Med. 1981 May;2(2):101-5.