The drug Trenbolone is, without a doubt, the most powerful injectable anabolic steroid used by Steroid.com members to gain muscle. However, the full properties of the drug are not always fully understood. This profile will separate fact from fiction and help steroid.com members decide if Trenbolone is right for them. Trenbolone is similar to the highly popular steroid Nandrolone, in that they are both 19-nor steroids, meaning that a testosterone molecule has been altered at the 19th position to give us a new compound. Unlike Nandrolone however, Trenbolone is an excellent mass and hardening drug with the majority of gains being muscle fiber, with minimal water retention (1) It has an unbelievable anabolic (muscle building) score of 500. When you compare that to Testosterone, which itself is a powerful mass builder, and has an anabolic score of 100 you can begin to fathom the muscle-building potential of Trenbolone. What makes Trenbolone so anabolic? Numerous factors come into play. Trenbolone greatly increases the level of the extremely anabolic hormone IGF-1 within muscle tissue (2). And, it is worth noting that not only does it increase the levels of IGF-1 in muscle over twofold, but it also causes muscle satellite cells (cells that repair damaged muscle) to be more sensitive to IGF-1 and other growth factors(3). The amount of DNA per muscle cell may also be significantly increased (3). Trenbolone also has a very strong binding affinity to the androgen receptor (A.R), binding much more strongly than testosterone (4). This is important because the stronger a steroid binds to the androgen receptor the better that steroid works at activating A.R-dependent mechanisms of muscle growth. There is also strong supporting evidence that compounds which bind very tightly to the androgen receptor also aid in fat loss. Think of the receptors as locks and androgens as different keys, with some keys (androgens) opening (binding) the locks (receptors) much better than others. This is not to say that AR-binding is the final word on a steroid's effectiveness. Anadrol doesn't have any measurable binding to the AR& and we all know how potent Anadrol is for mass-building. Trenbolone increases nitrogen retention in muscle tissue (5). This is of note because nitrogen retention is a strong indicator of how anabolic a substance is. However, its incredible mass-building effects do not end there. Trenbolone can bind with the receptors of the anti-anabolic (muscle destroying) glucocorticoid hormones (6). This may also have the effect of inhibiting the catabolic (muscle destroying) hormone cortisol (7). Yet another amazing trait that must be noted is its ability to improve feed efficiency and mineral absorption in animals given the drug (8). To help you understand what this means for you, feed efficiency is a measurement of how much of an animal's diet is converted into meat, and the more food it takes to produce this meat, the lower the efficiency. Conversely, the less food it takes to produce meat the, higher the efficiency& well you get the idea. Animals given Trenbolone gained high quality weight without having their diet adjusted, thus improving feed efficiency. Finding new compounds which can improve feed efficiency is a billion-dollar industry, and has spawned many nutritional advances in the bodybuilding world over the last few decades (CLA, Whey Protein, and HMB are compounds that spring to mind as having first been introduced by the livestock industry). What does this translate to for the hard training athlete? The food you eat will be better utilized for building lean muscle, and vitamins and minerals are also better absorbed which may keep you healthier during the cycle.
Trenbolone is also a highly androgenic hormone when compared with Testosterone, which has an androgenic ratio of 100; Trenbolone's androgenic ratio is an astonishing 500. Highly androgenic steroids are appreciated for the effects they have on strength as well as changing the estrogen/androgen ratio, thus reducing water and under the skin. As if the report on trenbolone was not good enough, it gets better; Trenbolone is extraordinarily good as a fat loss agent. One reason for this is its powerful effect on nutrient partitioning (9). It is a little-known fact is that androgen receptors are found in fat cells as well as muscle cells(10), androgens act directly on the A.R in fat cells to affect fat burning. (11) the stronger the androgen binds to the A.R, the higher the lipolytic (fat burning) effect on adipose tissue (fat)(11). Since some steroids even increase the numbers of A.R in muscle and fat (11, 12) this fat loss effect would be amplified with the concurrent use of other compounds, such as Testosterone. Trenbolone promotes red blood cell production and increases the rate of glycogen replenishment, significantly improving recovery (13). Like almost all steroids, its effects are dose-dependent with higher dosages having the greatest effects on body composition and strength. Mental changes are a notorious side effect of Trenbolone use (15), androgens increase chemicals in the brain that promote aggressive behavior(16), which can be beneficial for some athletes wanting to improve speed and power. Trenbolone's chemical structure makes it resistant to the aromatize enzyme (conversion to estrogen) thus absolutely no percentage of Trenbolone will convert to estrogen. Trenbolone administration would not promote estrogenic side effects such as breast tissue growth in men (gynecomastia, bitch tits) accelerated fat gain, the decline in fat break down, and water retention. Trenbolone is also resistant to the 5- alpha-reductase enzyme, this enzyme reduces some steroid hormones into a more androgenic form, in this case however this does not matter. Trenbolone boasts an androgenic ratio of 500. It can easily cause adverse androgenic side effects in people who are prone to hair loss, prostate enlargement, oily skin, and acne. Unfortunately, Trenbolone's potential negative side effects do not end there. Trenbolone is also a noted progestin: it binds to the receptor of the female sex hormone progesterone (with about 60% of the actual strength of progesterone) (17). In sensitive people this can lead to bloat and breast growth worse still, Trenbolone's active metabolite 17beta-trenbolone has a binding affinity to the progesterone receptor (PgR) that is greater than progesterone itself (18). No need to panic though, the anti-estrogens letrozole or fulvestrant can lower progesterone levels, and combat any progestogenic sides. The use of a 19-nor compound like trenbolone also increases prolactin &. bromocriptine or cabergoline are often recommended to lower prolactin levels (20). Testicular atrophy (shrunken balls) may also occur; HCG used intermittently throughout a cycle can prevent this. (21) It is also wise for Tren users to closely monitor their cholesterol levels, as well as kidney function and liver enzymes, as Tren has the potential to negatively affect all of those functions. Finaplix, being a powerful progestin, will also shut down natural testosterone production even a relatively small dose, and keep the testosterone level suppressed for an extended period, this can lower libido and cause erectile dysfunction (fina dick). You must always stack Finaplix with testosterone. The acetate ester is a very short-chain ester attached to the Finaplix molecule. It has an active life of 2-3 days but to keep blood levels of trenbolone elevated and steady, daily injections are often recommended. The acetate ester provides a rapid and high concentration of the hormone which is beneficial to those seeking quick gains, coupled with a rapid clearing time the acetate ester can be discontinued on the onset of adverse side effects.
