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Mta3.4

Methandrostenolone (Dianabol) Research

Mostly mechanism / observational

9 peer-reviewed studies

What the evidence says

Mostly mechanism / observational

Most Methandrostenolone (Dianabol) studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.

Most evidence is from medium-quality randomised trials published 1967–1990 with a typical study size of 11 participants.

Based on 9 studies · 5 RCTs · 23 total participants

Confidence

Moderate confidence

By outcome

Lean mass & nitrogen balanceIn double-blind crossover trials, 100 mg/day added ~3.3 kg of lean weight with rises in muscle size; leg strength rose significantly vs placebo in trained lifters · Weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Strength & performanceIn double-blind crossover trials, 100 mg/day added ~3.3 kg of lean weight with rises in muscle size; leg strength rose significantly vs placebo in trained lifters · Weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Liver & hepatotoxicity
Too few graded studies2 studies
Hormones & virilization
Too few graded studies2 studies
Cholesterol & lipids
Too few graded studies1 study

Older research base

Newest study from 1990

196719781990

1RCT1981

Aloia JF, Kapoor A, Vaswani A, Cohn SH · Metabolism (1981)

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2RCT1981

Hervey GR, Knibbs AV, Burkinshaw L, Morgan DB, Jones PR, Chettle DR · Clin Sci (Lond) (1981)

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3RCT1967

Hunter PR, Cotton SG, Kelsey JH, Bloom A · Br Med J (1967)

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4RCT1976

Selvini A, Martinesi L, Corallo S, Belli C, Lucchelli PE, Binelli C · G Ital Cardiol (1976)

5RCTn=11 · very small study1976

In plain English: On methandienone the subjects gained weight (mean 3.3 kg) and accumulated a disproportionately large amount of potassium (420 mmol); the increase in weight was confined to the lean part of the body, and the muscles increased in size.

Hervey GR, Hutchinson I, Knibbs AV, Burkinshaw L, Jones PR, Norgan NG, et al. · Lancet (London, England) (1976)

The foundational controlled trial: 11 athletic men given methandienone 100 mg/day for 6 weeks in a double-blind crossover during weight-training
On the drug the men gained a mean ~3.3 kg of body weight that was confined to the lean compartment, with a disproportionately large accumulation of total body potassium and increased muscle size
Strength and performance improved over each training period but not significantly more on drug than placebo — an honest caveat the 1981 follow-up was designed to resolve

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6Cohortn=11 · very small study1985

In plain English: The HDL2 cholesterol concentration decreased by about 80% and HDL3 cholesterol by about 55% ... the study group had significantly lower HDL cholesterol concentrations than the control group.

Alén M, Rahkila P, Marniemi J · International journal of sports medicine (1985)

Counter-evidence on the adverse lipid harm: a controlled clinical trial of power athletes self-administering testosterone and anabolic steroids (including methandrostenolone) versus training controls over 9 months
HDL and HDL2 cholesterol fell dramatically on androgens — HDL2 by ~80% and HDL3 by ~55% — to extremely low concentrations, with the difference from controls significant from 8 to 32 weeks
Quantifies the severe, atherogenic lipid shift that accompanies anabolic-steroid use in real-world dosing, with no offsetting cardiovascular benefit

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7Animal1981

In plain English: The long-term effects of an anabolic steroid (Dianabol) on the liver of motor-active mice was investigated. The pathologic changes occurring are due to cholestasis, peliosis hepatis, and diffuse hepatitis.

Stang-Voss C, Appell HJ · International journal of sports medicine (1981)

Compound-specific hepatotoxicity evidence: a long-term study of Dianabol (methandrostenolone) in motor-active mice examining liver parenchyma
Produced cholestasis, peliosis hepatis and diffuse hepatitis, with a suggested pathogenic chain from cholestasis and peliosis toward cirrhosis
Animal evidence, but directly on Dianabol itself rather than the class — the structural liver injury that 17α-alkylation produces

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8Review1989

In plain English: In all cases where an effect was achieved, the drug used was methandrostenolone or stanozolol ... The use of AAS as ergogenic drugs must be deprecated because of their marginal effects, the risks of side effects and the unsporting, unethical aspects.

Søe M, Jensen KL, Gluud C · Ugeskrift for laeger (1989)

A review of placebo-controlled studies of anabolic-androgenic steroids on muscle strength, body weight and lean body mass in body-building men
In about half the placebo-controlled studies a significant effect was found — and in every case where an effect was achieved, the drug was methandrostenolone or stanozolol, placing methandrostenolone among the AAS most likely to actually work
Honest counterweight in the same review: the effects were judged marginal and the authors deprecate AAS use given side-effect risk and the unethical/unsporting nature

9Case Studyn=1 · very small study1990

In plain English: A 30 year old bodybuilder who had been taking anabolic steroids for 18 months presented with bleeding oesophageal varices. Serious liver disease secondary to anabolic steroids including peliosis hepatis, nodular hyperplasia and malignant change is well recognized.

Winwood PJ, Robertson DA, Wright R · Postgraduate medical journal (1990)

Severe-harm counter-evidence in a human: a case report of a 30-year-old bodybuilder on anabolic steroids for 18 months who presented with bleeding oesophageal varices
Frames the worst-case end of AAS hepatotoxicity — serious liver disease including peliosis hepatis, nodular hyperplasia and malignant change, here progressing to portal hypertension and variceal haemorrhage
Documents that the liver injury is not merely reversible enzyme elevation but can produce life-threatening structural and vascular complications in long-term users

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View in Research Library

Methandrostenolone (Dianabol) Research

Mostly mechanism / observational

Changes in body composition following therapy of osteoporosis with methandrostenolone.

Effects of methandienone on the performance and body composition of men undergoing athletic training.

Controlled trial of methandienone in treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

[On the use of an anabolic hormone in the acute myocardial infarction. Experimental trial on 486 patients (author's transl)].

"Anabolic" effects of methandienone in men undergoing athletic training.

Serum lipids in power athletes self-administering testosterone and anabolic steroids.

Structural alterations of liver parenchyma induced by anabolic steroids.

[The effect of anabolic androgenic steroids on muscle strength, body weight and lean body mass in body-building men].

Bleeding oesophageal varices associated with anabolic steroid use in an athlete.