Oxandrolone is an anabolic steroid that is used to help encourage weight gain, especially in patients who have lost excessive amounts of weight from surgery, injury or other complications, explains the government health resource PubMed. As an anabolic steroid, oxandrolone increases your body's levels of testosterone, which enhances protein synthesis and encourages weight and muscle gain. However, steroids are controlled substances, and PubMed notes oxandrolone may cause liver problems, so you may want to seek less harsh alternatives that still boost testosterone to produce results. While no supplement can match the effects of steroids, some can encourage weight and muscle gain. Consult your doctor before using any substances, as they may be harmful.
ZMA
ZMA is a blend of natural nutrients--the minerals zinc and magnesium in addition to vitamin B6--that is purported to enhance weight gain and muscle mass while discouraging fat gain. These results are due to the supplement's ability to raise testosterone levels. A study published in the December 2000 issue of the "Journal of Exercise Physiology Online" found that eight weeks of ZMA supplementation significantly increased testosterone and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) as well as muscular strength. Testosterone and IGF-1 are muscle-building hormones, and the study indicated that weight increased as well.
Tribulus Terrestris
Another natural supplement purported to enhance muscle-building by increasing testosterone levels is tribulus terrestris. Tribulus supplements are derived from a tropical herb bearing the same name and are sometimes used to address male sexual dysfunction. While tribulus terrestris may increase testosterone levels, its efficacy is sometimes debated. A study from the Vilnius Pedagogical University in Lithuania found that tribulus terrestris supplementation significantly increased testosterone levels in athletes, but only for the first 10 days of a 20-day experiment. The researchers do note that tribulus terrestris increased strength, likely due to the testosterone increase. Because testosterone is the primary muscle-building hormone in your body, using tribulus terrestris may encourage weight gain in the form of muscle, the purpose for which oxandrolone is prescribed.
Eurycoma Longifolia Jack
Eurycoma longifolia jack is a natural supplement that is also called Tongkat ali. Like tribulus terrestris, this supplement increases weight and muscle mass by increasing testosterone levels in your body. Eurycoma longifolia jack is a key ingredient in a number of testosterone-boosting supplements intended for use by bodybuilders. However, little research has been done on this supplement's effects in humans. A study from the November 2009 issue of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that Eurycoma longifolia jack did increase testosterone levels in rats, but there is no guarantee that your results will be the same.
References
- PubMed Health: Oxandrolone
- "Journal of Exercise Physiology Online"; Exercise Nutrition Effects of a Novel Zinc-Magnesium Formulation on Hormones and Strength; LR Brilla, V Conte; December 2000
- "Fiziologicheskii zhurnal"; The influence of the Tribulus terrestris extract on the parameters of the functional preparedness and athletes' organism homeostasis; K Milasius, R Dadeliene, J Skernevicius; May 2009
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Influence of Eurycoma longifolia on the copulatory activity of sexually sluggish and impotent male rats; P Zanoli et al; November 2009
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