By the way, there is a great write up on the benefits of Creatine on cycle. I will post that up in the next 24-48 hours.
On a side note
My diet is completely free of any meat/fish (except eggs once or twice a month). As a result, i get above average results on a comparative basis to colleagues. First hand and anecdotal evidence provided both by colleagues at the gym and research online for those following exact same CM protocol is the basis for comparative analysis. Nevertheless, meat or no meat - there are benefits to be had w/ the addition of Creatine for all users on/off cycle. The synergy w/ resistance training according to many studies on the benefits of creatine alone are resounding.
I found this article below a few years back. It is edited and the advertising removed for respect of this board and its sponsors.
...
Is creatine worth taking well
on a steroid cycle?
"Michael Gundill (a.k.a. Dharkam)....Although creatine does have
testosterone-like effects, it doesn't act as a steroid hormone. Instead,
it's a mediator of some of the androgens' anabolic effects. In fact, steroid
users get far more out of their cycles if they take in massive amounts of
creatine along with the drugs. Androgens are among the hormones that can
force the entry of creatine into muscle cells. While there's a clear
relationship between muscle strength gains and increases in muscle creatine
stores, unfortunately, the relationship is not as obvious when it comes to
increases in muscle mass.
Animal-based studies have shown that the muscles
of untrained rats take up as much creatine as the muscles of trained rats,
but the ANABOLIC effects of creatine are only obvious in trained rats.
Therefore, training increases the muscles sensitivity to the anabolic
actions of creatine. (Although it's not related to this article,the
study
also demonstrated that the anabolic effects of creatine are DIRECT, and not
mediated by water retention. In fact, in the 1970s American and Russian
studies pointed out a DIRECT anabolic effect of creatine on muscle cells).
testosterone increases the muscles' sensitivity to the anabolic properties
of creatine in addition to enhancing the creatine buildup in muscle fibers.
It's also obvious that
part of the strength gains people experience while on
steroids are mediated by an increase in muscle creatine stores. An
interesting discovery A/S users have made is that they should dramatically
increase their creatine intake during a cycle to boost the potency of the
steroids. Thanks to creatine, people can build more muscle mass with fewer
drugs. Anecdotal evidence from A/S users points out that
it takes at least
10-15 grams(maintenance)of creatine a day to visibly enhance the the
anabolic potency of a steroid stack. There are probably good reasons for the
increased creatine requirement when androgen levels are high. As mentioned
above, steroids increase the muscle uptake of creatine, and if the muscles
are ready to accept more creatine, why not give it to them? I also think
that even though steroids enhance creatine synthesis, they may increase
creatine degradation as well-so more creatine is used up every day. That
could be due to an increase in muscle creatine turnover and also the fact
that an elevated muscle Protein synthesis rate will likely consume creatine
at a faster rate. Other reasons for a higher creatine requirement may be
indirect. Because the muscles of drug users are stronger and receive more
training, they may waste greater amounts of creatine during training. Once
inside the muscle, creatine provides not only an anabolic effect, but also a
rapidly mobilized source of fuel. Muscle Protein synthesis is a process that
wastes great amounts of energy.
Anabolism is an ATP-dependent process, which
means that it's essential for Protein synthesis. If the cellular level of
ATP is reduced even a little, IT STOPS ANABOLISM. So even if you can
increase the testosterone content of your muscles, nothing will happen if
your ATP level is low. Creatine supports anabolism by providing energy to
the muscle"
Now I will expand on this subject and shed light as to why this guy was
pretty much spot on with what he said. People always promote creatine off
cycle, but I like our good friend "Michael Gundill" Feel the steroid world
must know the truth, and we must change the way people think!!
Recent research has shown that both
creatine and anabolic steroids work
through the same mechanisms within the body. The most notable mechanism in
which they work through to create their anabolic effects is GLUT-4. Glucose
transporter 4 (GLUT4) belongs to the assisted glucose transporter family and
is mainly expressed in insulin-sensitive tissues, muscle and fat. In
response to insulin, and other stimuli such as exercise, GLUT4 undergoes a
rapid redistribution within the cell that results in a gain in surface of
GLUT4 levels, and this mechanism predominantly accounts for changes in
glucose transport in muscle and adipocytes (Liver cells). This mechanism
involves a complex interplay between signal transduction and vesicular
transport pathways. As we all know insulin plays a huge role in controlling
blood glucose. This also explains why bodybuilders are willing to gamble and
inject insulin even though they know there is a chance of dying after each
injection.
After this research was released doctors told their diabetic
patients to sway from creatine usage due to its similarity to insulin in
which it works within the body! While creatine may not be as potent as
insulin it still holds its own benefits not only through Glut-4 but through
other prime examples you will read.
What is Creatine:
Creatine is an nitrogen based organic amino acid that supplies ATP to the
muscles. In humans, about half of the daily creatine is biosynthesized from
three different amino acidsarginine, glycine, and methionine. The rest is
taken in by alimentary sources. Ninety-five percent of creatine is later
stored in the skeletal muscles.
About 50% of our creatine is obtained from
our diet (mainly meats) and the balance is created/manufactured by our own
Liver, pancreas and kidneys through endogenous synthesis aka our own protein
synthesis without the help of gear.
Vegetarians have creatine in their
muscles, but at a lower level than meat eaters. The respectable average
external daily dietary requirement is about 2 grams obtained from meat and
meat products. Demanded muscle energy comes from the ATP-PC (adenosine
triphosphate-phosphacreatine) system. ATP is basically a source of readily
available muscular energy source. ATP is the compound muscles use to do
work. It's the "PC" part of the the ATP-PC system that regenerates ATP
levels.
The body only makes about 1 to 3 grams of creatine per day. Creatine
uptake is augmented by combining creatine supplementation with exercise and
with carbohydrate ingestion. There is one way creatine works. One way is
through anaerobic glycolysis also known as anaerobic exercise. When we're
exercising hard; ATP is released to the muscular system in order to give us
continuing muscular energy. And, of course, we know what happens. Waste
products like lactic acid build up in the muscles as a result of anaerobic
activity and we get tired! Creatine of course delays the lactic acid build
factor by providing the much needed ATP to the muscle. This is where
creatine steps in. While no one fully understands the way creatine
supplements work, a 1994 study demonstrated that creatine phosphate stored
in muscles lead to a lesser dependence on the anaerobic process for the
replenishing of muscular ATP! This means less muscular waste products like
lactic acid and enables a longer cycle of muscular activity before fatigue
and muscular exhaustion.
French scientist Michel Eugene Chevreul discovered creatine in 1835.
Chevreul isolated a component of skeletal muscle - the voluntary muscle we
use in exercise - and named it after the Greek work for flesh -Kreas.
He
found the presence of muscular creatine was ten times more concentrated in
wild animal muscle than in zoo animal muscles. This observation linked
creatine with effective muscular activity - the thought being that a wild
tiger, for instance, could be expected to run and jump better than a captive
tiger.
Creatine is primarily found in skeletal muscle and early 1900's research
indicated that the presence of creatine in skeletal muscle could be
increased by eating more meat. This leads us to the early historical use of
creatine and creatine sources. Creatine benefits have been recognized for a
long time. A Wrestler by the name of Milo of Croton is one of the first
documented competing strong men. He lived in the late 6th century B.C. and
was a five time wrestling champion at the 62nd through 66th Olympiads.
Milo's daily diet included 20 pounds of meat daily! Milo incongruously died
while attempting to split a tree trunk by hand without using wedges. Milo
became stuck in the tree and was subsequently eaten by wolves. This shows
why
meat is clearly a great source of creatine, reason why I ALWAYS suggest
meat to be eaten instead of an only whey diet. A 1928 study showed that
creatine increased muscular body mass and weight and opened the door to
creatine as a possible source of athletic performance improvement. Eastern
Bloc countries in fact have used creatine benefits as athletic performance
enhancer since the 1922 Olympics. Some sports historians feel that it was
creatine that gave cold war era athletes their Olympic edge over other
competitors. In the 1990's researchers brought creatine to the public as an
ergogenic aid, and muscular strength enhancer. The rumors of creatine
benefits entered the sports performance markets, which allowed this dietary
supplement sales to soar. In, 1997 sales of creatine in the United States
alone topped $100 million US dollars and have continued to grow well past
400 million in the US alone as of 2001. Today creatine makes up a whopping
10% of the sports supplement market!!
More interestingly, a 1998 survey conducted by a British newspaper on 360
elite athletes showed 44% were using creatine regularly (daily basis),
including 100% of rugby league players and 100% of weightlifters. To no
surprises it was these types of athletes, since
the creatine benefits are
primarily associated with explosive athletic movements or explosive output.
About 50% of our creatine is obtained from our diet (meats) and the balance
is created by our own Liver, pancreas and kidneys through endogenous
synthesis. This is why
vegetarians have creatine in their muscles, although
at a lower level than meat eaters. The recognized average external daily
dietary requirement is about 2 grams obtained from meat and meat products.
To understand the role of creatine in muscular activity we need a little
background in muscular physiology 101. On-demand muscle energy comes from
the ATP-PC (adenosine triphosphate-phosphacreatine) system. Think of ATP as
a readily available muscular energy source. ATP is the compound muscles use
to do work. It's the "PC" part of the ATP-PC system that refreshes ATP
levels. The body only makes about 1 to 3 grams of creatine per day. Creatine
uptake is augmented by combining creatine supplementation with exercise and
with carbohydrate ingestion.
There's a couple of ways this works. One way is through "anaerobic
glycolysis" - anaerobic exercise. When we're exercising hard this is the
muscular system that is giving us continuing muscular energy. And, of
course, we know what happens. Waste products like lactic acid build up in
the muscles as a result of anaerobic activity and we get tired!
This is where creatine steps in. While no one fully understands the way
creatine supplements work, a 1994 study demonstrated that creatine phosphate
stored in muscles lead to a lesser dependence on the anaerobic process for
the replenishing of muscular ATP! This means less muscular waste products
like lactic acid and enables a longer cycle of muscular activity before
fatigue and muscular exhaustion.
Creatine good for the brain?
This study, along with a couple I came across explain that besides the
ergogenic benefits creatine acts as a neuroprotective in possibly allowing
one to avoid Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
anabolic steroids is known
to have neuro stimulative activities along with nuero damaging properties.
Another reason why creatine should be reconsidered while on cycle to
minimize any potential damage one may encounter during cycle. Am I saying
that anabolic steroids is going to give you neurological issues NOT AT ALL!
I am just suggesting that it is always good to have supporting supplements
while on just in case if one is unaware of any genetic or medical issues and
creatine definitely provides health to brain function.
Potential benefits of creatine monohydrate supplem... [Curr Opin Clin Nutr
Metab Care. 2000] - PubMed result
Perks of Increased Protein Synthesis while on Cycle!
As you may know already, anabolic steroids increase both nitrogen retention
and protein synthesis. One reason why many say eat, lift,sleep, then eat
again and you will grow! The more protein the better, many say well only on
cycle can you really reap the benefits of increased protein synthesis, yet I
have two articles here that display that creatine ENHANCES PROTEIN
SYNTHESIS!
What is Protein synthesis?
It's a process by which ones DNA encodes the proteins and and aminos for
specific instructions. The process of protein synthesis is undergone through
two steps which are Transcription (first step) and Translation. These steps
just take mRNA splice them to the cell and make the function or development
of the DNA's plan.
Creatine and the control of muscle-specific protei... [Circ Res. 1976] -
PubMed result
Creatine and the control of muscle-specific protei... [Circ Res. 1976] -
PubMed result oller.PPMCArticlePage.PPMCPubmedRA&linkpos=3
Creatine is a myostatin inhibitor!
See, lots of people feel that creatine on cycle is a waste because it only
ads "water weight", but that is false as you can see since
creatine a
myostatin blocker. This makes gains on cycle even GREATER than when on gear
alone. Creatine and the Control of Myosin Synthesis in Differentiating
Skeletal Muscle
Effects of oral creatine and resistance training o... [Mol Cell Endocrinol.
2010] - PubMed result
What are Myostatin levels?
A team of scientists/researchers were led by McPherron and Lee at John
Hopkins University was investigating a group of proteins that regulate cell
growth and differentiation. During their investigations they discovered the
gene that could be responsible for the improbability of increased muscle
mass, also known as double-muscling (1, 2). Myostatin, is the protein that
encodes the gene. It's a member of a of related molecules called
transforming growth factors beta (TGF-b ).Myostatin is also called or titled
as growth and differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8). Higher living organisms are
comprised of many different types of cells whose growth, function and
development must be coordinated for the function of individual tissues, and
the entire organism as a whole. This function is attainable by specific
intercellular signals, which control tissue growth, function and
development. These molecular signals display a surge of events in the target
cells, referred to as cell signaling, leading to a maximum response within
or by the cell. Typical hormones are long-range signaling molecules which
are known as the endocrine hormones (which are responsible for testosterone
and other androgens). These substances are produced and secreted by cells or
tissues (pituitary glands) and circulated through the blood supply and other
bodily fluids to enhance the activity of cells or tissues elsewhere within
the body. Growth factors (GF) are normally effective in EXTREMELY low
concentrations and have high affinity for their corresponding receptors on
target cells. For each type of GF there is a specific receptor in the cell
membrane and/or nucleus. When GF is bound to their ligand, the
receptor-ligand complex begins an intracellular signal inside of the cell or
nucleus, and modifies the cell's function. A GF may have different
biological effects depending on which type of cell with which it interacts.
The response of a target cell depends greatly on the receptors that cell
expresses. Some GFs, such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF) have broad
specificity and affect many classes of cells. Others act only on one cell
type and display a specific response. Many growth factors promote or inhibit
cellular function and could definitely be multifactoral. Two or more
substances may be required to induce a specific cellular response. Creation,
growth and development of most cells require a specific combination of GFs
rather than a single GF. Growth promoting substances may be counterbalanced
by growth inhibiting substances (and vice versa) much like a feedback
system. The point where many of these substances correspond to produce a
specific response depends on other regulatory factors, such as environmental
or otherwise. Here is a fun fact; so far studies suggest that African
Americans tend to have low serum concentrations of myostatin levels which
explain why they develop such refined fast twitch muscle fibers.
One of the
reasons why scientists are trying to find a way to naturally inhibit
myostatin levels, thus far they have been unsuccessful in doing so. So now
think about it; creatine inhibits myostatin which allows for faster
recovery, muscle growth, fast twitch muscle fiber development(enhanced
athletic development), and bone/muscle regeneration. Sounds like combining
it with a anabolic steroids would be OUTSTANDING. The magic doesn't stop
there!!!!!
Pay close attention, If you have ever been caught saying " I only use
steroids, and supplements are all a waste of money" You are about to look
like a fool my friend and everyone's going to be laughing at you once the
word gets out.
Muscle cells or muscle fibers are multinucleated. In other words they have
more than one nuclei that control the complex tasks they take on throughout
the day.
An example if you will. If your muscle was a product manufacturing plant and
the nuclei were the workers at this plant. It would be very easy to see that
the number of workers in the plant sets the limit of product output from the
plant, and also directly effects the size to which the manufacturing plant
can grow to. Both the size of the plant and the product output form it
cannot increase without more workers. In the same sense (or in a roundabout
way) both the size of your muscles and there output are limited to the
number of nuclei within the muscle fibers. Putting it as simple as one can.
Without more nuclei to take care of extra muscle, growth and output can only
increase so much. After which your muscle are stuck in the small business
market until a company expansion takes place and new employees are brought
in to take on the extra work load.
These muscle nuclei sprout from specialized cells around the muscle called
satellite cells. So without a increase in satellite cells a increase in
nuclei cannot take place. Think of your satellite cells as your human
resources department. They do all the hiring of employees and thus help
expand your number of workers. without a good functioning HR department you
get no steady flow of workers coming in. Likewise a thriving satellite team
means the possibility of a good steady flow of fresh new employees to work
your muscle factory and keep it growing.
The use of steroids has shown to increase the number of satellite cells
within the muscle fibers. This of course leads to a increase in nuclei
(workers). Creatine through human study has shown to
ncrease the number of nuclei that sprout forth from the number of increased
satellite cells!
Steroids+creatine
= more satellite cells+more nuclei=THE ABILITY TO GROW LARGER
MUSCLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
keep it up
