Bilirubin: Bilirubin is one of the many constituents of bile, which is formed in the liver. An increase in levels of bilirubin can be indicative of liver stress or damage/inflammation. Drugs that may increase bilirubin include oral anabolic steroids (17-AA), antibiotics, diuretics, morphine, codeine, contraceptives, etc. Drugs that may decrease levels are barbiturates and caffeine. Non-drug induced increased levels can be indicative of gallstones, extensive liver metastasis, and cholestasis from certain drugs, hepatitis, sepsis, sickle cell anemia, cirrhosis, etc.
Normal Adult range: 0.3-1.0 mg/dl
Alkaline Phosphatase: This important liver enzyme is used as an indicator of liver stress or damage. Increased levels can stem from cirrhosis, liver tumor, pregnancy, healing fracture, normal bones of growing children, and rheumatoid arthritis. Decreased levels can stem from hypothyroidism, malnutrition, pernicious anemia, scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) and excess vitamin B ingestion. As a side note, antibiotics can cause an increase in the enzyme levels.
Normal range:
Adolescent 30-200 U/L
Adult 30-120 U/L
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase, SGOT): This is yet another enzyme that's used to determine if there's damage or stress to the liver, as well as for the presence of heart disease. When the liver is damaged or inflamed, AST levels can rise to a very high level (20 times the normal value). This happens because AST is released when the cells of that particular organ (liver) rupture from chemical injury. The AST then enters blood circulation. Increased levels can be indicative of heart disease, liver disease, skeletal muscle disease or injuries, as well as heat stroke. Decreased levels can be indicative of acute kidney disease, beriberi, diabetic ketoacidosis, pregnancy, and renal dialysis.
Normal Adult Range: 0-35 U/L (Females may have slightly lower levels)
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase, SGPT): This is yet another enzyme that is found in high levels within the liver. Injury or disease of the liver will result in an increase in levels of ALT. Smaller quantities are also found in skeletal muscle, so there can be a weight-training induced increase thru DOMS/resistance training damage to muscle tissue, giving a false indicator for liver disease. Increased levels can be indicative of hepatitis, hepatic necrosis, cirrhosis, cholestasis, hepatic tumor, hepatotoxic drugs, and jaundice, as well as severe burns, trauma to striated muscle (via weight training), myocardial infarction, mononucleosis, and shock.
Normal Adult Range: 4-36 U/L
Endocrine Function
Testosterone (Free and Total) About 95% of the circulating Testosterone in a man's body is formed by the Leydig cells, which are found in the testicles. Women also have a small amount of Testosterone in their body as well. This is from a very small amount of Testosterone secreted by the ovaries and the adrenal gland (in which the majority is made from the adrenal conversion of androstenedione to Testosterone via 17-beta HSD).
Nomal range, total Testosterone:
Male
Age 14 <1200 ng/dl
Age 15-16 100-1200 ng/dl
Age 17-18 300-1200 ng/dl
Age 19-40 300-950 ng/dl
Over 40 240-950 ng/dl
Female
Age 17-18 20-120 ng/dl
Over 18 20-80 ng/dl
Normal range, free Testosterone:
Male 50-210 pg/ml
LH (Luteinizing Hormone) LH is a glycoprotein that's secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and is responsible for signaling Leydig cells to produce testosterone. Measuring LH can be very useful in terms of determining whether a hypogonadal state (low testosterone) is caused by the testes not being responsive despite high or normal LH levels (primary), or whether it's the pituitary gland not secreting enough LH (secondary). Another possibility is that the anterior pituitary under the direciton of the hypothalamus— which secretes LH-RH (luteinizing hormone releasing hormone) — maybe dynfunctional.
If it's a case of the testes not being responsive to LH, then compounds like clomiphene and hCG really won't help. If the problem is secondary, then there's a better chance for improvement with drug therapy. Increased levels can be indicative of hypogonadism, precocious puberty, and pituitary adenoma. Decreased levels can be indicative of pituitary failure, hypothalamic failure, stress, and malnutrition.
Normal ranges:
Adult Male 1.24-7.8 IU/L
Adult Female
Follicular phase: 1.68-15 IU/L
Ovulatory phase: 21.9-56.6 IU/L
Luteal phase: 0.61-16.3 IU/L
Postmenopausal: 14.2-52.3 IU/L
Estradiol An excess of this hormone is known to be responsible for symptoms such as water retention, hypertrophy of adipose tissue, gynecomastia, and may play a role in the development of prostate hyperplasty and tumor formation in the prostate and breast in males. Estrogen is the primary hormone responsible for the negative feedback loop which suppresses endogenous testosterone production. Increased estradiol levels can be indicative of a testicular tumor, adrenal tumor, hepatic cirrhosis, necrosis of the liver, hyperthyroidism, etc.
Normal ranges:
Adult Male 10-50 pg/ml
Adult Female
Follicular phase: 20-350 pg/ml
Midcycle peak: 150-750 pg/ml
Luteal phase: 0-450 pg/ml
Postmenopausal: < 20 pg/ml
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Disclaimer: Hypermuscles.com does not promote the use of anabolic steroids without a doctor's prescription. The information we share is for entertainment and research purposes only.
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