The steroid 19-nortestosterone (nandrolone, 19-NT), popularized in esterified form as nandrolone decanoate (ND, Deca-durabolin or simply “Deca”), is an injectable synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) used in the strength and fitness community for building muscle. The traditional stack, hailed by “bro science” for over 40 years, combines ND with a testosterone ester such as testosterone cypionate or testosterone enanthate. The objective of the combination is to maximize the anabolic effects while keeping the adverse effects of supraphysiological use in check. ND and its relative safety as an anabolic agent has been addressed in the clinical context (48, 49) and for non-medical (i.e., athletic performance or cosmetic) use (see, e.g., past
22 30% in Harerge, Eastern Ethiopia,
29 27% in Jimma, Southeastern Ethiopia,
30 26.6% in Wolaita Sodo, Southern Ethiopia,
31 31.2% in Hosanna, Southern Ethiopia,
32 and 43% in Brazil.
33 The variation might be due to the variability of time of investigation and sample size among the studies.
The prevalence of underweight among participants on ART in Dilla Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia was 12.3%,
34 which was lower than the findings of the current study. This might be due to variations in the characteristic of the population. And the magnitude of underweight among patients on ART from this study was higher than the findings 10% in Zimbabwe.
35 The difference might be associated with differences in the population and sample size between the studies.