Should I buy Viagra-mimics online to build my body?

Today, there are hundreds of so-called Viagra related products marketed for bodybuilders. These supplements are said to contain substances, which are related to nitric oxide. Unfortunately, the majority of these supplements have never been evaluated to see what they exactly contain or their clinical benefits. 

Bodybuilders are notorious for taking almost any supplement, herb or mineral that will help them boost their muscles and increase exercise endurance. In many cases, these supplements are fake and do not contain anything that resembles Viagra. 

So best advice is not to buy any medicine online unless it is a bona fide pharmacy with a good reputation. Most European pharmacies are scams and you will also have a hard time explaining to US Customs why and how you ordered 10 boxes of Viagra from Russia!

How often should bodybuilders take Viagra?

To be effective for exercise endurance, Viagra must be taken at least 3-45 minutes prior to starting the exercise program. The effects of Viagra usually last anywhere from 4-6 hours. For bodybuilders to derive the maximum benefits from Viagra, the pill must be used regularly.

The benefits of Viagra for bodybuilders are not immediate. Most individuals begin to see some increases in exercise endurance after about two-three weeks. These effects only last as long as Viagra is continued. 

As soon as Viagra is discontinued, the benefits immediately disappear. When Viagra is taken regularly for months, exercise endurance gradually results in bigger and powerful muscles.

Why do bodybuilders use Viagra?

One of the most common side effects of anabolic steroids is testicular atrophy and impotence. Thus, to counteract the decreased libido, many male bodybuilders also use Viagra to achieve erections. 

While there are no extensive studies on bodybuilders who use Viagra, anecdotal reports do indicate that when Viagra is used on a regular basis. Viagra is said to profoundly increases exercise endurance and improves workouts. These benefits of Viagra are thought to be related to its ability to open up blood vessels. 

Almost all bodybuilders who take Viagra to increase exercise endurance also claim that their sex lives are much improved.

I am a 25 year old male bodybuilder and would like to use Viagra. Any thoughts on the subject?

Viagra was first developed for the treatment of a rare heart disorder. However, during the initial research studies it became obvious that the medication could increase blood flow and potentiate an erection. 

More studies revealed that Viagra acted on an enzyme in the smooth muscle that relaxed the blood vessels. This permitted more flood to flow to the penis and hence resulted in a prolonged erection. Viagra was then shown to increase blood flow to the lungs by relaxing the blood vessels. This finding has proven to be great benefit to individuals who have reduced oxygen to the lungs and are always gasping for breath. Now, an off label use of Viagra is among bodybuilders. 

The exact number of athletes and bodybuilders who use Viagra is not known but the numbers are significant. While some bodybuilders use Viagra to enhance their sex life, others use it to increase endurance and build up muscle. Research has shown that athletes who use Viagra do develop a low blood pressure and tend to perform well with aerobic exercises.

CoQ10 and exercise performance

Coenzyme Q10 is a health supplement widely used by many people. CoQ10 is also known as Kaneka Q10, Ubiquinone, vitamin q10, Solu Q10.

Some individuals use Coenzyme Q10 to prevent medical diseases, others use it to cure medical disorders and others use it to boost their exercise performance. Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring compound manufactured in the body. It is essential in the functioning of cell at molecular level. What is not well understood is what CoQ10 exactly does. There is a lot of evidence that it is a potent compound and plays a role in the generation of energy. That is why it is found in the highest concentrations in liver, brain, heart and kidneys.

Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 for short has been claimed to cure many diseases and prevent others. The puzzling feature about this compound is that it is known that levels do decline as we age. However, this decline in levels is not consistent and not directly linked to any diseases. Some individuals have low levels and have no diseases; where other individuals have high levels of CoQ10 and have some type of disease. CoQ10 deficiencies may occur if the body does not manufacture the substance or if there is impaired synthesis. Some people may have CoQ10 deficiency due to poor dietary intake.
Levels of CoQ10 can definitely be increased by taking supplement of this substance, but it is not known what really happens to this extra supplement.

Dealers who sell CoQ10 recommend it for the treatment of many medical disorders but there is little evidence that it does anything. CoQ10 has been widely tested in humans and animals. For short term use it is pretty safe. Long term data on safety of CoQ10 are not available

Prohormones & Bodybuilding 101

In the last few years, many athletes have turned to prohormones to build their body. But just what are prohormones? A prohormone is essentially a substance that is a precursor to the real hormone itself. It usually only has minimal physiological or pharmacological activity on its own. A classic example of a prohormone is proinsulin. Before insulin can work, the hormone has to be processed by the body’s enzymes. In most cases, the prohormone usually undergoes a specific change that results in the production of the active hormone.

Prohormones and Bodybuilders

Ever since the rules have been tightened on anabolic steroids, athletes have been trying to obtain these drugs by other means. Some go to Mexico and bring back the raw plants known to contain steroids. Others try home made remedies and try to extract steroid hormones from these plants. Some try to synthesize anabolic steroids in home made laboratories. And now we come to prohormones.

Use of prohormones by athletes is not new at all. Prohormones have been taken by athletes for decades. It was a secret that was not divulged to the rest until the FDA came cracking on the use of anabolic steroids. Even though prohormones are chiefly ingested or injected by athletes (both men and women), the problem is even more widespread at school and college levels.

Today, many athletes take prohormones to build their bodies. It is hoped that by taking these prohormones the body will convert them to the active hormone. Why go through this route of taking drugs? Well, there was a time period when many anabolic steroids were easily available but with the recent FDA clamp down, people have turned to other means of getting to the steroids.

Repoxygen- the future of doping Part 1

Erythropoietin is a hormone which is released from the kidneys. Its function is to stimulate the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. Repoxygen is the trade name for the gene that is claimed to increase the release of erythropoietin from the kidneys. The higher the number of red cells, the greater is the oxygen binding capacity of these cells. Theoretically, an increased in blood oxygen should lead to an increase in exercise performance.

The gene is still in the development stage and only used in animals; so far no human testing has been done. Oxford Biomedical has constructed a viral gene delivery vector which can carry the human EPO gene. The majority of these studies have been carried out in mice and are still in the infant stages. At least in animals the administration of the gene results in an increased in red blood cell mass.

In clinical medicine, Repoxygen will be used to treat cases of resistant anemia in individuals with renal failure. The researchers claim that the gene will be activated when the oxygen concentration in the blood is low and will turn itself off when the oxygen concentration has been replenished. It is believed that a similar gene plays a physiological role in the control of EPO from the kidneys.

Epogen (erythropoietin EPO)

Physiology

EPO is a glycoprotein (protein-sugar conjugate) that has been shown to regulate synthesis of red blood cells in the bone marrow. When released from the kidneys it directs it activity in the bone marrow and helps stimulate the differentiation of stem cells into red blood cells. It is a normal body chemical which control hemoglobin synthesis and red blood cell concentration. Human EPO is a medium sized molecule (30,400-dalton) and contains 165 amino acids which are coupled to a few carbohydrate and sialic acid residues. There are several sub classes of EPO in the body- they only differ in the carbohydrate content.

At birth, EPO is manufactured in the liver but shortly afterwards the kidneys become the primary source of EPO. The regulation of EPO is based on concentration of oxygen in the blood crossing the kidneys. When the kidneys sense a low oxygen concentration in blood, EPO synthesis is increased. Human Epogen was isolated from urine nearly 40 years ago. Since then we have developed recombinant DNA methods to produce EPO in the laboratory. The drug is made by Amgen and widely available globally


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Benefits of L-carnitine

Antioxidant effects
L carnitine has anti oxidant effects and does provide protection to the cell membranes from oxygenated products. This anti oxidant activity provides maximim protection to the heart at cellular levels and does play a role in the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Effects on diabetes
L carnitine has been shown to improve blood sugar control in diabetics. It has been known that supplementation of L carnitine with insulin also leads to a lowering of blood cholesterol.

Food sources
The highest concentrations of L carnitine are found in red meat and dairy products. Other sources of carnitine include:

-nuts – almonds, pea nuts
-seeds- pumpkin, sunflower, sesame
-legumes- beans, peas, lentils
-vegetables - artichokes, asparagus, beet greens, broccoli, brussels sprouts
-spices- garlic, mustard greens, okra, parsley, kale
-fruits- apricots, bananas
-cereals-buckwheat, corn, millet, oatmeal, rice bran, rye, whole wheat, wheat bran, wheat germ
-miscellaneous- bee pollen, brewer's yeast

Uses

Except for some congenital conditions where L carnitine deficiency is noted, there are no other medical disorders which are treated with L carnitine. In any case, L- carnitine is recommended for some medical disorders with the belief that it may be beneficial. These conditions include:

- Heart disease, heart failure
- Those with elevated cholesterol
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Eating disorders
- Alcohol related liver disease
- Renal failure
- Infertility
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Dementia

Its use in sports athletes is controversial.

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