Like it or not, anabolic steroids are having a moment right now, and not just on social media. A 2019 study called recreational anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use an “alarming worldwide public health concern.” (1)
But the severity of habitual steroid use isn’t just a concern for healthcare professionals. Prominent voices in the fitness industry are beginning to speak up about the risks, including bodybuilder and content creator Dr. Mike Israetel.
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On Jun. 27, 2024, the Exercise & Sport Science PhD and el jefe of Renaissance Periodization broke down which supplements he uses to mitigate the side effects of anabolic steroids — offering plenty of cautionary wisdom along the way.
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Bodybuilding Supplements | Dr. Mike Israetel
“Dr. Mike” is currently closing out a makeshift bodybuilding contest prep diet. Despite having no intentions of stepping onto a bodybuilding stage afterward, Israetel is devoted to completing a phase of substantial fat loss.
- “My first ‘meal’ is pills, potions, and powders,” Israetel joked with the camera before diving into the robust assortment of supplements he consumes on a daily basis.
Not every supplement Dr. Israetel takes is for the express purpose of mitigating steroid side effects, but we’ll get to that.
Israetel shouted out a pair of potent products that he believes have a positive effect on his overall health, in addition to the standard fare of the pro bodybuilder:
Cannabidiol (CBD)
“Anabolic steroids are neurodegenerative,” Israetel says, explaining why he consumes cannabidiol (CBD) supplements daily. According to Israetel, certain CBD products have what he calls “neuroprotective” effects.
Israetel has also spoken about his battles with anxiety, a struggle that he says is made worse by aggressive performance-enhancing drug use. Israetel credits CBD supplementation for, in part, mitigating these symptoms.
The Science: Scientific research has acknowledged that CBD may have “extremely valuable neuroprotective properties,” but more research is needed. (2)
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Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN)
Dr. Israetel also incorporates a daily dose of nicotinamide mononucleotide, or NMN, a supplement purported to have anti-aging properties.
- “I’ve found the literature to be relatively compelling, so I’m giving it a shot,” Israetel remarks.
Anabolic steroid abuse has been associated with having adverse effects on the aging process. A 2021 study noted “deviant brain aging” among steroid users; in plain English, performance-enhancing drug users’ brains seem to age faster than their bodies. (3)
The Science: One 2020 study called NMN “…an effective nutraceutical anti-aging intervention,” but more recent papers cite concerns regarding the “safety and physiological effects in human populations.” (4)(5) NMN supplementation is an emerging area of study.
Other Supplements
Israetel ran the gamut of bodybuilding supplements and other medications beyond the two notables above. In addition to “nootropics, blood pressure medication, and metformin to regulate blood glucose,” Israetel also relies on the basics to supplement his diet and training:
- Whey Protein Powder
- Multivitamin
- Creatine Monohydrate | “The only kind that works dependably well,” Israetel notes, dry-scooping a mouthful.
A Word of Caution: “Don’t take anything just because I take it,” Israetel remarks. “If you’re not enhanced, you probably don’t need to take much of anything at all.” He closed his supplement spiel by noting that the majority of his supplement regimen is curated specifically to manage the various side effects of performance-enhancing drugs.
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As of the time of this article’s publication, Dr. Israetel is two weeks out from concluding his “mock” contest prep diet. At 5’6” and 245 pounds with visible abdominal muscles, Israetel must be extremely precise about his nutrition.
Here’s a breakdown of his current calories and macronutrients:
- Calories: 3,105
- Protein: 240 grams
- Carbohydrate: 435 grams
- Fat: 45 grams
[Related: “No Squats” — the Leg Exercises Dorian Yates Uses To Build Muscle at 62]
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References
- Alharbi FF, Gamaleddin I, Alharbi SF, Almodayfer O, Allohidan F, Alghobain M, Arafah A, Al-Surimi K. Knowledge, attitudes and use of anabolic-androgenic steroids among male gym users: A community based survey in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pharm J. 2019 Feb;27(2):254-263. doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2018.11.007. Epub 2018 Nov 22. PMID: 30766438; PMCID: PMC6362160.
- Fernández-Ruiz J, Sagredo O, Pazos MR, García C, Pertwee R, Mechoulam R, Martínez-Orgado J. Cannabidiol for neurodegenerative disorders: important new clinical applications for this phytocannabinoid? Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Feb;75(2):323-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04341.x. PMID: 22625422; PMCID: PMC3579248.
- Bjørnebekk, A., Kaufmann, T., Hauger, L. E., Klonteig, S., Hullstein, I. R., & Westlye, L. T. (2021). Long-term Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use Is Associated With Deviant Brain Aging. Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging, 6(5), 579–589.
- Shade C. The Science Behind NMN-A Stable, Reliable NAD+Activator and Anti-Aging Molecule. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2020 Feb;19(1):12-14. PMID: 32549859; PMCID: PMC7238909.
- Song, Q., Zhou, X., Xu, K., Liu, S., Zhu, X., & Yang, J. (2023). The Safety and Antiaging Effects of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide in Human Clinical Trials: an Update. Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), 14(6), 1416–1435.
Featured Image: Renaissance Periodization / YouTube
