Trenbolone [Tren]: What Is Trenbolone Steroid

Steroids are ubiquitous amongst bodybuilders and competitive athletes. Although banned by the World-Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), for use in sports, athletes still use anabolic steroids, to enhance performance and strength. One of the most popular anabolic steroids, trenbolone, otherwise known as Tren, is an anabolic steroid, estimated to be three-five times more potent than testosterone, due to its high tissue-selectivity and affinity for muscle. We are going to discover what tren does, how trenbolone works, as well as the benefits and side effects.

Tren or trenbolone is an anabolic and androgenic steroid (AAS). Specifically, tren is classified as a steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM).

It was first discovered in the 1940s that 17-alpha alkyl substitution retards the presystemic metabolism of testosterone, extending its half-life and making it orally active. Consequently, this is where selective androgen modulators started.

Structurally, SARMs can be categorized into steroidal and nonsteroidal SARMs. Steroidal SARMs are formed and synthesized by modifying the molecular structure of testosterone.

Tren is under the nandrolone group of steroids and was first marketed and sold under the brand names Finajet and Finaplix, under the pharmaceutical company Merck. Trenbolone acetate was first synthesized in 1963 and introduced for veterinary use in the early 70’s to promote muscle growth in cattle.

Trenbolone, a synthetic analog of testosterone, is classified as a SARM. SARMS have a high affinity for selectively binding to androgen receptors, and high tissue-selectivity for muscle and bone promoting greater anabolic effects. SARMS have less androgenic effect and virilization than testosterone.

Virilization, is the development of male physical characteristics (such as muscle bulk, body hair, and deep voice) in a female or precociously in a boy, typically as a result of excess androgen production.

Trenbolone like other SARMS does not undergo aromatization to estrogen or 5-alpha reduction which may contribute to the prostate-sparing effects (R).

Certain androgens like testosterone undergo aromatization (conversion of testosterone to estradiol) However, in vitro evidence indicates that trenbolone and its primary metabolites are relatively non-estrogenic, and in vivo evidence demonstrates that trenbolone induces antiestrogenic effects.

Mechanistically, tren is very similar to other anabolic and androgenic steroids. Trenbolone has the capacity to produce insulin like growth factors, (IGF-1), as well as upregulates fibroblast growth factor.

However, what differentiates tren from other anabolic steroids, is that tren also expresses anticatabolic mechanisms associated with reductions in endogenous glucocorticoid activity (R).

Therefore, tren inhibits muscle protein breakdown, which increases overall protein synthesis and anabolism. 

Trenbolone like other anabolic steroids, facilitates anabolic effects, via increases in protein synthesis, and nitrogen retention. Due to high tissue-selectivity for muscle tissue, tren is commonly used as a performance enhancing aid, for bodybuilders and athletes. Yet, tren is not as anabolic when compared to other steroidal and non-steroidal androgen modulators.

Preliminary and pre-clinical trials have shown that tren induces fat loss, greater than other steroids such as testosterone enanthate. This could be due to the prevention of catabolic responses, while inducing more potent lipolytic effects within visceral visceral adiposity than endogenous androgens, at least on a dose-to-dose equivalent. 

Since tren has never been synthesized for therapeutic use by humans and no studies investigating the effects of trenbolone have ever been performed with human clinical trials, there is no evidence to support the safety and efficacy of its uses.

However, Trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate, or trenbolone cyclohexylmethylcarbonate, sold under the brand names Parabolan and Hexabolan, is a synthetic, injected anabolic–androgenic steroid (AAS) of the nandrolone group and an androgen ester. This was introduced by Negma Pharmaceuticals in France. This pharmaceutical drug was pulled from market in 1997.

Trenbolone is recognized as one of the riskier anabolic steroids, due to the fact that it lacks in therapeutic evidence and application.

AAS can cause significant alterations in the density of serotoninergic receptors in animals, leading to an established anabolic steroid-serotonin connection, which is believed to be the underpinning of why there is a change in emotional state and behavior with steroid use (R).

Trenbolone has been identified as one of the most neurotoxic anabolic steroids, attributable to modulated serotonin receptor activity and associated with decreased serotonin neurotransmission (R,R).

Individual cases of violence, death, and cardiovascular risk has also documented with trenbolone use (R).

Short term side effects of trenbolone which have been identified, include:

• Insomnia
• High blood pressure
• Increased aggression
• Libido

Estrogenic side effects, from the lack of aromatization, and affinity for the estrogenic specifically progesterone receptor, can cause lactation.

Since tren is 300% stronger than testosterone, it also comes with androgenic effects. These side effects, can lead to

• Loss of hair
• Acne
• Change in Prostate Size
• Effects in libido
• Hypogonadism

Long term side effects include

• Cardiovascular effects
• Increases in LDL and decreases HDL
• Kidney damage
• Liver damage
• Neurodegenerative effect (R).

Studies have shown that low doses of tren does not induce prostate enlargement, whereas large doses of trenbolone can increase prostate mass to a similar magnitude, compared to testosterone.

Testosterone is converted to DHT or dihydrotestosterone, which can amplify virilization or androgenic effects.  Although tren is 300% more potent than testosterone, is does shown an equal 1:1 potency to DHT at large doses.

Trenbolone or tren is often used recreationally by bodybuilders, in the cutting phase of bodybuilding prep. This is due to the powerful anabolic effects, combined with the anti-catabolic effects.