Thursday, November 26, 2009

Animal M-stak




What is anabolic? Protein synthesis. Nitrogen retention. "Nutrient-partitioning". The all new Animal M-Stak. A natural supplement which helps boost anabolism and perfect for the classic "hardgainer" in all of us.
“I don't need bullshit supplements out there for those 110 lb. guys... I just need hardcore stuff that works. I'm a hardgainer. Not the strongest man in the gym, but I hold my own. I'm 5'8" at 230 lb. with 18" arms. M-Stak helped me put on more mass and train like an animal in the gym. You guys keep up the good work and I"ll train my balls off in the gym and spread the word of Animal to everyone who asks me."
- K. Ly, San Francisco, CA

From green beginner to diehard vet, we’ve all gone through it. Skidding to a halt, our progress idles on a wretched plateau. Can’t gain another pound, workouts are stale, lifts are static. This is the hardgainer’s syndrome, and from the most slender of ectomorphs to the most muscular endomorph, we’ve all been there. Desperate to ignite new growth, we’ll try almost anything.

For those of us so dedicated to this game, these frequent moments of desperation have come to an end. The new M-Stak is here, more powerful than ever, designed to obliterate plateaus and spark an explosion of raw muscle hypertrophy. Building on the legacy built by the original M-Stak formula, the new M-Stak has taken all of the most potent components of its predecessor and cranked it up to the next level.

M-Stak has long been built on a foundation of natural anabolic flavones. These substances mimic the actions of bodybuilding pharmaceuticals, but without the harsh and undesirable side effects. Born from Eastern European athletic studies, these anabolic flavones have long been highly touted as performance enhancers capable of eliciting dramatic gains in lean muscle mass. The new M-Stak formula combines the most potent of these anabolic compounds in more hearty dosages, making the long storied anabolic potential of the product all the greater.

Primary among these flavones are Beta-Ecdysterone and Methoxyisoflavone. These ingredients have the ability to shuttle nutrients toward lean mass accumulation, a process known as nutrient partitioning. Beyond this, these anabolic flavones promote enhanced protein synthesis and nitrogen retention. These are the mechanisms most crucial in the process of new muscle growth, brought about by M-Stak without any hormonal manipulation.

Rounding out the Natural Flavone/Sterone Complex are Ajuga Turkestanica and Beta Sitosterol. Ajuga Turkestanica contains the potent phytosteroid extract Turkesterone, known to be extremely powerful in advancing protein synthesis. Beta Sitosterol, while having its own inherent anabolic potential, is a cortisol combating compound with dramatic pro-immunity effects.

With M-Stak, you also get a mega potent anti-catabolic amino blend. With advanced forms of leucine and the other BCAAs spearheading the mixture, these aminos work from a cellular level to directly stimulate protein synthesis. Studies show that by adding leucine along with a protein/carb meal, you get even greater whole body net protein balance than just consuming protein and carbs alone. These aminos help to stimulate muscle recovery and protein synthesis via translation regulations, all through non-hormonal means. They do this by manipulating key muscle growth regulators such as mTOR, PKB, p70s6k, 4E-BP1, FOXO and MAFbx. These aminos essentially work as a signal for turning on the muscle building process, allowing increased muscle anabolism following a training session.

We’ve also included key “anabolic adaptogens” such as safed musli, muira puama, rhodiola rosea and kudzu extract. Together these herbs have been shown to help increase physical training capacity, improve endurance, minimize the catabolic stress response, decrease mental fatigue as well as support healthy libido and boost immune system function. These are critical factors for naturally enhancing ones performance levels in the gym.

You also get potent insulin potentiators which work to maximize insulin production. Potent compounds such as K-R-ALA and CinnulinPF™ help your body to utilize ultra anabolic insulin both effectively and efficiently. This equates to increased uptake of glycogen and increased muscle cell volume which contributes to that full, pumped feeling when you workout.

M-Stak also delivers a potent energy blend, packed with powerful, natural stimulants, methylxanthines and evodiamine, which are designed to propel you through even the most grueling of training sessions. The addition of this complex, easily identifiable by its red capsule, makes M-Stak perfect for pre-training, lighting that fire under your ass that we all need from time to time.

Finally, M-Stak’s M-Factor transport complex works to maximize nutrient utilization to ensure all of the powerful components of the formula are processed to maximum efficacy. Using ginger root extract coupled with the ultra potent absorption enhancers bergmottin and bioperine, you can be sure that the myriad growth factors in the M-Stak formula are working to their full capacity and are not going to waste.

M-Stak floods your system with an abundance of anabolic nutrients, switching your muscle building signals on and turning them to full blast. Combining potent flavones and sterones in hefty doses with the most anabolic of amino blends supported by an array pf cutting edge asaptogens in a single pretraining pack designed for optimum absorption, the new Animal M-Stak takes non-hormonal anabolics to a whole new level. Animal M-Stak, The Ultimate Hardgainer’s Stack, has come to turn "hardgainers" into "hard" gainers.


required for
• Natural bodybuilders & powerlifters
• Classic "hardgainers"
• Maximizing muscle gains naturally
• Anabolic & anticatabolics
• Optimizing non-hormonal anabolism
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daily dose
Take one pack every day for 21 consecutive days. On training days, take a pack 45 minutes prior to exercise. On non-training days, take a pack in the morning or early afternoon.
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selected ingredient profile
Natural Flavone/Sterone Complex
• 5-Methyl-7-Methoxyisoflavone
• Beta-Ecdysterone
• Ajuga Turkestanica Extract (Turkesterone)
• Beta-Sitosterol
Anti-Catabolic Amino Complex
• Leucine AKG
• Leucine EE
• Leucine
• isoleucine
• Valine
• Taurine
• ALC
Anabolic Adaptogen Complex
• Muira Puama
• Kudzu Extract
• Safed Musli
• Rhodioloa Rosea Extract (Rosavins)
Insulin Potentiating Complex
• 4-Hydroxyisoleucine
• Banaba Leaf Extract (1-3% Colosolic Acid)
• Cinnulin PF
• K-R-ALA
M Factor Complex
• Ginger Root Extract (Gingerols, Shaogols)
• 6,7-Dihydroxybergmottin
• Bioperine
Energy Complex (All In One Red Capsule)
• Methylxanthine Complex (Caffeine, Theobromine, Theophylline)
• Evodiamine
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recommended stacks
When you want to fully maximize muscle, performance, and strength, and you want to fully optimize your body's anabolic drive, stack Animal M•Stak with Animal Pump and Universal's Torrent.
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selected sources
•Abidov M, Crendal F, Grachev S, Seifulla R, Ziegenfuss T. Effect of extracts from Rhodiola rosea and Rhodiola crenulata roots on ATP content in mitochondria of skeletal muscles. Institute of Immunopathology, Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Moscow.
Bull Exp Biol Med. 2003 Dec;136(6):585-7. PMID: 15500079
•Anthony JC, Reiter AK, Anthony TG, Crozier SJ, Lang CH, MacLean DA, Kimball SR, and Jefferson LS. Orally administered leucine enhances protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats in the absence of increases in 4E-BP1 or S6K1 phosphorylation. Diabetes 51: 928-936, 2002.
•Anthony JC, Lang CH, Crozier SJ, Anthony TG, MacLean DA, Kimball SR, and Jefferson LS. Contribution of insulin to the translational control of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle by leucine. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 282: E1092–E1101, 2002.
•Anthony JC, Reiter AK, Anthony TG, Crozier SJ, Lang CH, MacLean DA, Kimball SR, and Jefferson LS. Orally administered leucine enhances protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats in the absence of increases in 4E-BP1 or S6K1 phosphorylation. Diabetes 51: 928–936, 2002.
•Baranov VB. The response of cardiovascular system to dosed physical load under the effect of herbal adaptogen. Contract 93-11-615 Phase I and Phase II. Moscow: Russian Federation Ministry of Health Institute of Medical and Biological Problems; 1994.
•Bidzinska B, et al. Effect of different chronic intermittent stressors and acetyl-l-carnitine on hypothalamic beta-endorphin and GnRH and on plasma testosterone levels in male rats. Neuroendocrinology 57:985-90, 1993.
•Bratusch-Marrain, et al. The influence of amino acids and somatostatin on prolactin and growth hormone release in man. Acta Endocrinol 90:403, 1979.
•Brodie A. Aromatase and its inhibitors: an overview. J Steroid Biochem 40(1-3):255, 1991.
•Campbell DR, Kurzer MS. Flavonoid inhibition of aromatase enzyme activity in human preadipocytes. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 46:381-388, 1993.
•Chermnykh NS, et al. The action of metandrostenolone and ecdysterones on the physical endurance of animals and on protein metabolism in the skeletal muscles. Farmocol Toksikol 1988;51:57-60.
•Dinan L. 2001, Phytoecdysteroids: biological aspects. Phytochemistry 57:325-339
•DiSilverio F, et al. Evidence that serenoa repens extract displays an antiestrogenic activity in prostatic tissue of benign prostatic hypertrophy patients. Eur Urol 1992; 21:309.
•Gadzhieva RM, et al. A comparative study of the anabolic action of ecdysten, leveton and Prime Plus, preparations of plant origin. Eksp Klin Faramkol 1995;58:46-8.
•Germia E. Antioxidant actions of acetyl-l-carnitine: in vitro study. Med Sci Res 16:699-700, 1988.
•Hammarqvist F, et al. Alpha-ketoglutarate preserves protein synthesis and free glutamine in skeletal muscle after surgery. Surgery 109(1):28-36, 1991.
•Karlsson HK, Nilsson PA, Nilsson J, Chibalin AV, Zierath JR, and Blomstrand E. Branched-chain amino acids increase p70S6K phosphorylation in human skeletal muscle after resistance exercise. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 287: E1–E7, 2004
•Laszlo F, et al. Metabolic 5-methyl-isoflavone-derivatives, process for the preparation thereof and compositions containing the same. US Patent 4,163,746, August 7, 1979.
•Mamatkhanov A. U. et al. Isolation of Turkesterone from the epigeal part of ajuga turkestanica and it’s anabolic activity. Chemistry of natural compounds, 1998, vol. 34, pp. 150-154
•Nair KS, Schwartz RG, and Welle S. Leucine as a regulator of whole body and skeletal muscle protein metabolism in humans. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 263: E928–E934, 1992
•Norton LE, Layman DK. Leucine regulates translation initiation of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle after exercise. J Nutrition. 2006 Feb;136(2):533S-537S.
•Otaka T, Okui S, Uchiyama M 1969, Stimulation of protein synthesis in mouse liver by ecdysone. Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin (Japan) 17(1):75-81.
•René Koopman, et al. Combined ingestion of protein and free leucine with carbohydrate increases postexercise muscle protein synthesis in vivo in male subjects. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 288: E645-E653, 2005.
•Sershon H, et al. Effect of acetyl-l-carnitine on the dopaminergic systems in aging animals. J Neurosci 30:555-59, 1991.
•Spasov AA, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen. Phytomedicine 2000;7(2):85-9.
•Syrov VN, et al. Anabolic activity of phytoecdysone-ecdysterone isolated from Rhaponticum carhamoides (Willd.). Farmocol Toksikol 1976;39:690-3.
•Taglialagela G, et al. Acetyl-l-carnitine enhances the response of pc12 cells to nerve growth factor. Brain Res Dev Brain Res 59:221-30, 1991.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The history of testosterone

2005 marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of the term hormone by Ernest Starling. Although its biological effects were known since antiquity, the name testosterone (T) was coined only in 1935, when Ernest Laqueur isolated it from bull testes. The road to this isolation was long: John Hunter had transplanted testes into capons in 1786 and Adolph Berthold postulated internal secretion from his testicular transplantation experiments in 1849. Following his observations, testicular preparations were used for therapy, popularised by self-experiments of Brown-Séquard (1889), which can at best have had placebo effects. Nevertheless, testis preparations were consumed until quite recently for the enhancement of virility. In the 1920s Sergio Voronoff transplanted testes from animals to men, but their effectiveness was disproven by the Royal Society of Medicine in 1927. Modern androgen therapy started when T was chemically synthesized independently in 1935 by Aldolf Butenandt and Leopold Ruzicka.

Since T was ineffective orally it was either compressed into subcutaneous pellets or was used orally as 17α-methyl T, now obsolete because of toxic side effects. In the 1950s longer-acting injectable T enanthate became the preferred therapeutic modality. In the 1950s and 1960s research concentrated on the chemical modification of androgens in order to emphasise their anabolic effects. Although anabolic steroids largely disappeared from clinical medicine, they continue an illegal life for doping. In the 1970s the orally effective T undecanoate was added to the spectrum of preparations. In 1992 WHO, NIH and FDA postulated preparations of natural T mimicking physiological serum levels, a demand first met by a transdermal scrotal film. Non-scrotal skin patches followed and finally in 2000 transdermal T gels became available. The most recent additions to T substitution therapy, the short-acting buccal T and the long-acting injectable T undecanoate, also fulfil the demand for physiological serum levels.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Anabolic Steroids History

History of Steroids

In order to trace the history and development of anabolic steroids from their beginning to their present day form, we first need to look back towards ancient times, when it was known that the testicles were required for both the development and maintenance of male sexual characteristics. In modernity, this concept was further developed, by a scientist named Berthold and his experiments on cockerels done in 1849. He removed the testes from these birds, and they lost several of the characteristics common to the male of their species, including sexual function. So, we knew as early as 1849 that the testicles functioned to promote what we consider to be primary male sexual properties; in other words, they are what "make men into men". Berthold also found that if the testicles were removed and then transplanted to the abdomen, the sexual function of the birds was largely unaffected. When the birds were dissected, it was found that no nervous connections were formed, but a vastly extensive series of capillarization took place. (1) This provided strong evidence that "the testes act upon the blood" (2) and he further concluded that this blood then had a systemic effect on the entire organism. Anabolic Steroid history, therefore, can be truly said to have made its first step with this simple series of experiments.

Later, in 1929 a procedure to produce an extract of potent activity from bull's testicles was attempted, and in 1935 a more purified form of this extract was created. A year later, a scientist named Ruzicka synthesized this compound, testosterone, from cholesterol, as did two other scientists, Butenandt and Hanisch (3). Testosterone was, of course, the first anabolic steroid ever created, and remains the basis for all other derivations we have currently being used in medicine today. Testosterone was then used in 1936, in an experiment demonstrating that nitrogen excretion of the castrated dog could be increased by giving the dog supplemental testosterone, and this would increase its body weight. (4) Shortly after this time, the Nazi´s were rumored to have given their soldiers anabolic steroids, but that rumor seems to be largely undocumented. Later, further experiments were carried out in men, of course showing that testosterone was a potent anabolic substance in humans. Later, between the years of 1948 and 1954, the pharmaceutical firms Searle and Ciba had experimented with the synthesizing of over a thousand different testosterone derivatives and similar analogues (15).

The story of steroids in athletics is now about to begin:

In 1954, a physician named John Ziegler attended the World Weightlifting Championships in Vienna, Austria, as the team's doctor. The Soviets dominated the competition that year, easily breaking several world records and winning gold medals in legions of weight classes. According to anecdotal reports, Ziegler invited the Soviet´s team doctor to a bar and the doctor told him that that his lifters had used testosterone injections as part of their training programs. Whether that story is true or not, ultimately, the Americans returned from the World Championships that year and immediately began their efforts to defeat the Soviets using pharmaceutical enhancement.

As you may have expected, when they returned to the United States, the team doctor began administering straight testosterone to his weightlifters. He also got involved with Ciba, the large pharmaceutical firm, and attempted to synthesize a substance with strength enhancing effects comparable or better than testosterone's. In 1956, Methandrostenolone was created, and given the name "Dianabol".

In the following years, little pink Dianabol tablets found their way into many weightlifter´s training program, fast forward a few years, and in the early 1960s, there was a clear gap between Ziegler´s weightlifters and the rest of the country, and much less of one between them and the Soviets. It was also in the 1960´s that another anabolic steroid had been developed and used to treat short stature in children with Turner Disease syndrome (13)

At this time, physicians around the United States began to take notice of steroids, and numerous studies were performed on athletes taking them, in an effort to stem the tide of athletes attempting to obtain steroids for use in sports. The early studies on steroids clearly showed that anabolic steroids offered no athletic benefit whatsoever, but in retrospect can be said to have several design flaws. The first issue with those studies, and the most glaring one was that the doses were usually very low, too low to really produce much of an effect at all. In addition, it was neither common for these studies to not be double blind nor to be randomized. A double blind study is one where neither the scientists nor the subjects of the study know if they are getting a real medication or a placebo. A randomized study is where the real medicine is randomly dispersed throughout the test group. Finally, in those early studies, nutrition and exercise was not really controlled or standardized. Not long after those flawed studies were concluded, the Physicians Desk Reference boldly (and wrongly) claimed that anabolic steroids were not useful in enhancing athletic performance. Despite this, in 1967, the International Olympic Council banned the use of anabolic steroids and by the mid 1970´s most major sporting organizations had also banned them.

Steroids in Olympics

Just prior to the ban on steroids in the Olympics, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) began a program with the goals of synthesizing new anabolic steroids for their athletes to use in various sports. Their body of research remains the most extensive collection of information on the use of steroids in athletes ever complied (5). Despite the small size of their country, they managed to consistently dominate the top ranks of various sports, competing with both the United States and the Soviet Union for total medals in both the Olympics and various World Championships. In 1972, the IOC began a full scale drug-testing program (8).

By 1982, the International Olympic Council had developed a test for the detection of excess levels of testosterone in athletes, known as the "Testosterone: Epitestosterone test". In this test, levels of testosterone vs/ epitestosterone are measured, and if the testosterone level is 6x that of the epitestosterone level, it can safely be concluded that some form of testosterone has been used by the athlete. This is because testosterone is commonly no more than 6x the natural level of epitestosterone found naturally in the body. Thus, if there were more than that ratio, it was not naturally occurring, in all probability. The IOC was, as usual, one step behind the athletes. The GDR had already done a study on their athletes using a form of testosterone which would leave the body quickly, and thus they would be ready for the IOC test within three days of their last injection (6). They then developed a protocol to allow their athletes to continue steroid use, ceasing it only long enough to pass the drug test. In addition, the German firm Jenapharm, who had been supplying the government with steroids for their athletes, developed an epitestosterone product to administer to athletes to bring the ratio back to normal without discontinuing steroid use (5).

Their doping methods were so advanced, however, that they remained undetected for many years, until late 1989 when information was leaked to the western media about a government sponsored program of systematic anabolic steroid administration and concealment. Eventually, in the early 1990´s, the Germans had finally gotten caught, and the ensuing scandal was one which helped give anabolic steroids the bad reputation they have had ever since. Ironically, it was also in the early 1990´s that anabolic steroids had started to be used by the medical community to improve survival rates of AIDS and Cancer patients, when it was discovered that loss of lean body mass was associated with increased mortality rates respective to those diseases (14).

A similar story was being played out in the United States at about that same time. Before 1988, steroids were only prescription drugs, as classified by by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). FDA determines which drugs will be classified as over-the-counter versus those which will only be available through prescription. At this time, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, was invoked to restrict the access of steroids, making them available only by prescription. They were still not controlled substances at this time, however.

A "Controlled substance" is one that is more firmly regulated than uncontrolled prescription drugs. As an example, contact lenses can only be legally purchased with a prescription, but they are not &qont;rolled" per se. This stricter control of steroids created a vastly more intense examination of the doctors prescribing them; and of course, more harsh penalties for wrongful dispensing. 1988 also marked the passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which put steroids in a totally different prescription category, one that stipulated very severe legal penalties for illegal sale or possession with intent to distribute. Now, steroid possession and/or distribution was considered a felony. Next, the United States Congress added steroids to the Controlled Substances Act as an amendment known as the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990. Steroids were now placed in "Schedule III" classification, along with amphetamines, methamphetamines, opium, and morphine, and carrying the same penalties for buying or selling them. This legislation and classification was passed without the support of the American Medical Association, the FDA, the DEA, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, all of whom actually protested the federal and state lIn the early part of the new millennium, steroids have again been pushed to the forefront of the news by the introduction of "prohormones" which were first developed and marketed by Patrick Arnold. It is at this point that the history of steroids in baseball begins to become more prominent; this is in all probability because Major League Baseball had no steroid testing program in effect during this time. During his epic quest to break Roger Maris´ home-run record, Mark Maguire was spotted by a reporter to have had a bottle of Androstendione in his locker. Although androstendione is not a steroid, and is simply a prohormone, the word /spanym-buyer, as did demand& and unfortunately, the prevalence of fake or counterfeit steroids.

Steroids remained in the media, occasionally making an appearance when an athlete tested positive, or admitted using them, but for another decade, they remained uncharacteristically out of the medias attention.

In the early part of the new millennium, steroids have again been pushed to the forefront of the news by the introduction of prohormones which were first developed and marketed by Patrick Arnold. It is at this point that the history of steroids in baseball begins to become more prominent; this is in all probability because Major League Baseball had no steroid testing program in effect during this time. During his epic quest to break Roger Maris home-run record, Mark Maguire was spotted by a reporter to have had a bottle of Androstendione in his locker. Although androstendione is not a steroid, and is simply a prohormone, the word steroid was again found circulating in the news on a nightly basis.

Not shortly after Roger Maris record was broken, another baseball player, Jason Giambi and various other athletes were either suspected of, or proven to have, taken anabolic steroids. Again, Congress convened a hearing, and just as they did the first time in 1990, they did not determine that steroids were a danger, but rather that the danger was more in protecting professional sports organizations. The updated statute has been updated to proscribe pro-hormones also The definition of an anabolic steroid as defined currently in the United States under (41)(A) is that "anabolic steroid" means any drug or hormonal substance, chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone (other than estrogens, progestins, corticosteroids, and dehydroepiandrosterone (7).

Currently, steroid use is far from declining. Among 12th graders surveyed in 2000, 2.5% reported using steroids at least once in their lives, while in 2004 the number was 3.4% (9). A recent internet study also concluded that anabolic steroid use among weightlifters and bodybuilders continues (12), and by all accounts, there are no signs of it stopping in athletics any time soon.

In addition, the legitimate use of anabolic steroids for a variety of medical problems also continues, ranging from the treatment of Andropause or Menopause, and ranging from speeding the recovery in burn victims to helping improve quality of life in Aids patients, to helping fight breast cancer and stave off osteoporosis.

Thus, the history of anabolic steroids is not something that has already occurred and been written, but rather it is a continuing history being written every day by scientists, lawmakers, doctors and of course, athletes.

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