Is there any evidence for the recommendation to not cycle too young?
This question gets asked by young new guys constantly and its about time we provided some real evidence to back up our stance on not cycling before you reach your mid 20s.
First lets look at the physiological impact aas has if you cycle too early...
press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/jc.2010-0435
"High-dose sex steroid treatment of boys does not affect their fatherhood or semen quality, as assessed after a mean follow-up of 21 years; however, serum testosterone levels are significantly reduced in androgen-treated tall men...
The treatment of tall stature is based on the understanding that exposure to gonadal steroids leads to epiphyseal fusion of the long bones during pubertal development."
"Leydig cell function was significantly affected by androgen treatment. In treated men, both serum testosterone and non-SHBG-bound testosterone levels were significantly reduced compared with untreated men. We hypothesize that the decreased T levels may be caused by reduced Leydig cell growth during puberty and suboptimal functioning of the Leydig cells in later life."
My interpretation
The group of guys in this study were treated back in the 60s & 70s with sustanon 250 for 1 1/2 years in order to stop them from getting too tall - this was seen as a bad thing back then.
They then did a follow up 21yrs later to see if there were any lasting side effects compared to base levels of untreated men.
The good news was that there was NO negative impact on fertility/sperm quality - this should calm those that fear that they wont be able to have children if they cycle. Although I should add that fertility issues to arise when women cycle but that's another post entirely.
The bad news is that serum T levels were SIGNIFICANTLY lowered for the guys treated with aas during their adolescence, it was still in the normal range but only just - the guys in this study will need to go on TRT at some point in their later years.
The study also shows that steroids are used to REDUCE height growth during puberty, this means that you can forget about getting any taller if you start cycling
The results are not conclusive, but do provide strong evidence for what most of the vets here already know -cycling too young increases the risk of needing TRT in the future because your interfering with your endocrine system before its finished developing.
It also shows that your growth plates will shut the minute you introduce endogenous hormones into your body - so if your still 5'7...
Is there any evidence for the recommendation to not cycle too young? Part 2
Ok this is a continuation of the same topic but instead of focusing on the implications for the endocrine system, I will be looking at what impact, if any, early steroid use has on brain development.
Let's start with some solid data...
Androgenic anabolic steroid exposure during adolescence: ramificati... - PubMed - NCBI
"Studies in both humans and animal models indicate that AAS exposure during adolescence alters normal brain remodeling, including structural changes and neurotransmitter function... The evidence suggests that the use of AAS during this critical period of development may increase the risk for maladaptive behaviors along with neurological disorders."
"Specifically, pubertal AAS abuse may contribute to abnormal brain development, or at least alter the normal trajectory of brain development, resulting in increased vulnerability for psychopathological and disorders and maladaptive behaviors."
The Influence of Age of Onset and Acute Anabolic Steroid Exposure o... - PubMed - NCBI
"A growing translational literature suggests that adolescent exposure to anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) leads to increased aggression and impulsivity. However, little is known about the cognitive effects of AASs among AAS users or the differences between adolescent- and adult-onset users. Adolescent onset was associated with greater impulsivity and more acute sensitivity to AAS effects on attention. These preliminary findings suggest the possibility that acute AAS use is associated with some differences in inhibitory control and impulsivity and to a lesser degree, aggression. These effects may be more potent for those initiating AAS use in adolescence."
My Interpretation & personal views
Both of these are fairly recent studies providing an insight into the impact aas has neurologically & whether this impact is greater at a younger age.
The first study, which is free to read for everyone, highlights the many behavioural changes that could occur when you interfere with the natural stages of brain remodelling.
The second study is much more relevant since it makes a direct comparison between adolescent aas use vs adult aas use. Although this was a small base with only 11 participants on each side, the authors found clear differences from a behavioural & neurological perspective - with younger use associated with much more pronounced negative changes.
It is commonly accepted that the brain doesn't fully mature until the early to mid 20s.
Is their a direct study illustrating this? Not that I'm aware of but reading through any basic human biology book will give you a fundamental understanding that this is indeed the case.
Or, if your not the reading type, how many people do you know below the age of say...23-25...that are very mature & have excellent behavioural characteristics? Exactly
Humans don't grow in an EQUAL manner when it comes to physical & mental maturity - the brain tends to take a more years when compared to the body.
Now IMO, it seems like a very bad idea to introduce large supraphysiological dosages of aas during age-specific developmental periods.
Could it permanently alter the organization of the brain during this important developmental period? Honestly, we don't know but I tend to prefer being cautious when it comes to things like brain development.
To summarise this:
Does early aas use increase the risk of lowering your natural testosterone levels compared to cycling at a later stage? Yes.
Does early aas use increase the risk of develop behavioural & neurological disorders when compared to cycling at a later stage? Yes.
Is it worth risking your physical & mental development in order to cycle a few years earlier? No.
