Carnivore / keto and steroids
-
So @haidut has mention in podcasts that the primary effect of bodybuilding steroids is cortisol suppression allowing for the anabolic state needed to grown muscle.
There are plenty of low carb / carnivore / keto influencers that are clearly on roids.
If this is the case why do they not pass out with severe hypoglycaemia if cortisol is required to maintain glucose in a keto state?I would have thought the combination would be dangerous?
-
@STH Very interesting question. Bumping.
-
@STH I am definitely not the smartest guy in the world but my two cents is that it could be genetic? My buddies and I take roids and some can go without carbs while I need something or else I feel like I am going to pass out. I would be interested in finding out why
-
I've never looked that deeply in this context, but cortisol is just one of the hormones involved in glucose regulation.
The hormones glucagon, glucocorticoids and adrenaline are all increased in catabolic states and may work in concert to increase protein breakdown in muscle tissue and to increase amino acid uptake in liver for gluconeogenesis.
Although glucagon is regarded as a major hormone that activates gluconeogenesis during fasting, fasting-induced gluconeogenesis is reduced in adrenalectomized mice, an effect that is restored by treating mice with GC [ 40 – 42 ]. In fact, glucagon-, epinephrine-, or cyclic AMP(cAMP)-induced gluconeogenesis are all attenuated in adrenalectomized mice. Giving GC to adrenalectomized mice restores the ability of these hormones to induce gluconeogenesis. Thus, GC play a “permissive” role promoting the optimal ability of these hormones in gluconeogenesis.
So if cortisol is not close to 0, and their bodies are already adapted to a high level of fatty acid oxidation and they are maintaining a constant flow of ketones, it is unlikely that they will experience severe hypoglycemia since ketones are glucose sparing.
ketogenesis can be upregulated by hormones such as glucagon, cortisol, thyroid hormones, and catecholamines by causing a more significant breakdown of free fatty acids, thus increasing the amount available to be used in the ketogenic pathway. However, insulin is the primary hormonal regulator of this process.
-
Do steroids actually suppress cortisol production / serum cortisol, or do they just reduce their binding affinity to AR and GR in skeletal muscle?
