Anabolic Update by William Llewelyn
New Designer Steroid
This month I thought it would be interesting to introduce readers to a new, underground steroid circulating on the black market. It's called dimethylnandrolone (DMN) and as its name suggest, it's a cousin to the popular drug Deca Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate), so highly favoured by athletes for its strong anabolic and mildly androgenic properties. Dimethylnandrolone or DMN for short, is an interesting analogue of nandrolone, displaying high relative potency and favourable estrogenic and androgenic characteristics. Although its emergence on the underground is fairly recent, it's quickly gaining attention and favourable reviews. With this in mind, I figured a thorough examination was warranted. So, without further fanfare let's find out what this new designer steroid is all about.
Dimethylnandrolone is a generic term that could refer to any number of different nandrolone-derived steroids. It really only tells us that this is a nandrolone with two additional methyl groups. In this case, the exact DMN we're looking at is 7-alpha, 11-beta dimethylnandrolone. Steroidphiles will recognize that this steroid is very close in structure to MENT (7- alpha- methylnortestosterone), an anabolic steroid currently under commercial development by Schering- Plough. MENT (which had been given the conventional name Trestolone is being examined as a new form of male contraception and androgen replacement therapy. The drug effectively supports male libido and suppresses spermatogenesis while simultaneously lacking a stimulatory effect on prostate volume (due to a reduced relative androgenic nature compared to testosterone). Given its similar structure, DMN shares many of the same qualities of MENT, although it's indeed a unique steroid in its own right. One of its most striking traits, in fact, is its extreme level of activity compared to most other steroids.
Binding studies show that DMN has an affinity for the cellular androgen receptor approximately twice that of DHT the most potent natural androgen in humans. A simple way to look at this is given equal concentration in the blood, you will find twice as much DMN bound to androgen receptors, compared to DHT. More binding usually means more activity. Compared to its (similarly) synthetic cousin MENT, DMN has about a 20 percent greater binding affinity. This is already some solid data, as DHT and MENT are no slackers as far as steroids are concerned. DMN is starting to look like it will be a fairly potent steroid. But it would be entirely misleading if we ended our examination here, as binding affinity is only one small part of the puzzle. Other primary factors effecting steroid potency include drug bioavailability, active half- life and binding affinity for constructive binding proteins. It may bind the androgen receptor well, but how long does it stick around in the body to do its job. Depending on how the compound fairs, pharmacologically speaking, it may be considerable stronger or weaker that relative binding affinity (RBA) alone would suggest (Dianabol and Winstrol are good examples of this).
A more accurate assessment of drug potency is made in vivo, or during experiments where the drug is administered to live animals (usually rats are used for the pre-human trials). Detailed in-vivo studies into DMN were published in 2005 and demonstrated a drug that was exceedingly potent. During the investigation, animals were injected with DMN subcutaneously for seven days, after which the animals were sacrificed and analysed for muscle gain and androgenic activity according to the long-standard lavator any (LA), seminal vesicles (SV) and ventral prostate (VP) growth assays. Other steroids were also used , including testosterone and MENT. This result were quite remarkable for DMN, which turned out to be by far the most potent steroid of the group. Compared with testosterone, dimethylnandrolone displayed approximately 136 times greater anabolic activity. Yes, that was not a typographical error. It had 136 times, not 136 percent, greater anabolic activity. Its androgenic activity was shown to be 14-37 times greater than that of testosterone, making this not only an exceedingly potent steroid, but also one with a high ratio of anabolic to androgenic effect. Compared to MENT, DMN was five times more anabolic with two to five times more androgenic activity based on SV and VP assays, respectively.
While MENT maintains some moderate level of estrogenic activity, this does not appear to be the case with DMN. Studies with other 11 beta modified steroids like fluoxymesterone have shown that substitutions to this point on the steroid backbone inhibit estrogen conversion, which strongly suggests that DMN is a non-aromatizable nandrolone derivative. Furthermore, studies looking at the relative binding of this agent to the estrogen receptor have shown extremely weak binding affinity. As such, no appreciable intrinsic estrogenic activity appears to be present with this steroid. It seems reasonable to consider it a non-estrogenic drug. Similar to nandrolone and MENT, however, DMN maintains some moderate level of progestational activity. Which could mimic/intensify estrogen action in the body. This, however, is likely not going to be problematic unless high doses are taken, or the drug is administered in higher doses alongside other strongly aromatizable agent (obviously not the target clinical use for such a drug). Overall, it would appear the DMN is not only a strongly anabolic and mildly androgenic agent, but it's also one not highly prone to causing estrogenic- type side effect such as gynecomastia, increased water retention or fat gain. Anecdotical report seem to support this conclusion as well. DMN does have one good thing going for it as far as safety is concerned. Unlike most of the recent designer steroids being released, it's not a e-17 alpha alkylated substance. Although human studies are lacking in this regard, it seems reasonable to conclude that this drug displays relatively low hepatotoxity (liver toxicity). That is usually the case with non-17-methylated steroids, although at times even some of these drugs have been shown to cause elevated liver stress if taken into high a dosage or for too long a duration. Trenbolone, nandrolone and methenolone (Primabolan) have all displayed such liver toxicity in clinical reports, albeit isolated ones. Let's therefore, not confuse low toxity with absolutely harmless. In a high enough dosage, you can likely run into trouble. The sheer potency of this drug suggest that daily doses below 1mg are going to be most commonly applied by bodybuilders. Doses well in excess of this are likewise discouraged. 17-methyllated steroids also tend to negatively affect lipids more so that their non-methylated analogs. This is one of the biggest drawbacks when it comes to the health risks of these drugs they legitimately and strongly affect a powerful factor in cardiovascular health. Without e-17 alpha methylation, DMN should have a less dramatic impact on your lipid. It's still a potent, non estrogenic drug, however, and as such will still cause negative changes to HDL and LDL levels in most users when taken in an athletically sufficient dose. Proper monitoring of serum lipids is highly recommended with use, as would be suggested with nearly all cycles. Still, it should be better that something like winstrol or Dianabol. Overall, DMN seems to be potent and comparably less toxic new addition to the world of the underground designer steroids. One must always remember that this is a very potent drug, however, and while likely fairly safe when used responsibly, can be risky (as any steroid can) it abused.
