What is Anavar? (Not AnaVAR-X)

Anavar is a brand name for the synthetic steroid called Oxandrolone, which was introduced in the US in 1964. It is a synthetic derivative of testosterone, but with only 5% of the virilizing activity and much lower hepatotoxicity (ability to cause liver damage or injury). [R]

Research has shown that Anavar can promote weight gain in people who have lost too much weight due to injury, surgery, chronic infections, or trauma. It has also been shown to reduce bone pain in people with osteoporosis and cause sustained decreases in body fat. [R]

Anavar has also exhibited the ability to counteract the catabolic effects of long-term corticosteroid therapy. Plus, a systematic review of 31 clinical trials reports that it increased weight regain, bone mineral density, and reduced wound healing in severe burn injury patients. [R]

Clinical studies have further reported that Anavar may treat growth delays. This synthetic anabolic steroid has been shown to increase height, skeletal maturation, bone mineral content, and muscle strength in children. Behemoth Labz sells Anavar for laboratory research use only. [R]

How does Anavar Work?

Anavar has demonstrated the following effects:

1) Increases protein synthesis

Anavar binds to androgen receptors in the skeletal muscle cells to increase the amount of protein made by the body. The protein is then used by the body for various purposes, including building more muscle and increasing body height. [R]

2) Decreases sex hormone binding globulin

Anavar has been shown to cause an almost-immediate decrease in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels in the body. This, in turn, increases free testosterone levels. That is because excessively high SHBG has been proven to decrease the amount of free testosterone. [R]

3) Inhibits glucocorticoid hormones

A cell-based study has shown that Anavar inhibits the action of glucocorticoid hormones via crosstalk between the androgen receptor and glucocorticoid receptor. [R]

Anavar Research

What follows is a summary of the existing research on Anavar. The information presented in this section is for educational purposes only. It doesn’t constitute medical advice on this potent anabolic agent. Speak to your doctor to know more about hi-tech pharmaceuticals Anavar.

1) Anavar and Weight Gain

Multiple studies have shown that Oxandrolone may promote weight gain and fat gain in people experiencing weight loss due to trauma, injury, surgery, or other causes.

A clinical study reported that Oxandrolone, combined with a high protein diet, significantly increased the rate of restoration of weight gain in burn injury patients. All of the study’s participants had suffered a significant drop in their weight due to the burn injury. [R]

Another study reported that Anavar might reverse HIV-related weight loss. Equally importantly, a host of side effects usually associated with anabolic steroids (used to treat HIV-associated weight loss) were not seen as frequently with this substance. [R]

2) Anavar and Burn Injury

A clinical study has reported that Anavar + optimum nutrition is more effective compared to nutrition alone when it comes to restoring lean muscle mass lost by burn injury. This is significant because serious burn injury can destroy lean muscle tissue. [R]

The same study then investigated whether the increases in lean body mass were retained six months after discontinuation of Anavar treatment. It concluded that they were.

Another study reported that Anavar, in combination with exercise, increased lean body mass (LBM) in severely burned children. Interestingly, the study also noted that the increases in LBM were more in the Anavar + exercise group than Anavar alone or exercise alone. [R]

3) Anavar and Muscle Strength

At least three studies have highlighted the positive effects of Anavar on muscle strength.

The first study investigated the effects of this substance in older men. The final results indicated significant muscle and strength gains after six weeks of treatment. Equally importantly, there were no serious adverse events that could be attributed to Anavar. [R]

Another study reported similar results, though it also found that the improvements in muscle area and strength were lost 12 weeks after discontinuing this drug. Lastly, the increase in muscle strength was also observed in an Anavar study involving children with severe burn injuries. [R]

4) Anavar and Osteoporosis

Severe osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a disorder characterized by osteoporosis, short stature, and frequent fractures.

A randomized controlled clinical trial reported that Anavar treatment increased predicted adult height (PAH) in boys (12.1 – 16.6 years old) with OI. This anabolic steroid also improved bone mineral density and reduced fracture incidence rate. [R]

5) Anavar and Height Velocity

Mean height velocity refers to the increase in height during a specific time period.

A clinical study has reported that Oxandrolone increased mean height velocity (from 4.0 to 8.6 in girls; from 4.3 to 8.9 in boys) in children with delayed growth. The immediate post-treatment height velocity was significantly higher than the pre-treatment one. [R]

Another study reported that Anavar increased height velocity in patients with cystic fibrosis, a condition associated with a decrease in pubertal peak height velocities. [R]

6) Anavar and Body Fat

In a randomized clinical trial involving 32 healthy men, Oxandrolone treatment for 12 weeks caused a significant increase in total and trunk fat. What is equally important is that the decrease in body fat was sustained even after 6 months of discontinuation of the treatment. [R]

Another trial involving thirty obese men reported a significant decrease in subcutaneous abdominal fat in the group receiving oral Anavar dosages. The researchers also noted that the Oxandrolone group tended to exhibit greater visceral fat losses. [R]

7) Anavar and Turner Syndrome

Turner syndrome is a female-only genetic disorder that affects about 1 in every 2000 girls. It can cause various medical and developmental problems, including short height.

A meta-analysis of four articles indicates that Oxandrolone positively affects adult height in Turner syndrome when combined with growth hormone therapy. Still, more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of Oxandrolone treatment better. [R]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the half-life of Anavar?

Anavar has exhibited a relatively long half-life of 9.4 – 10.4 hours.

Does Anavar increase nitrogen retention?

A clinical review of 45 trials reports that Oxandrolone was found to be effective in nitrogen retention at relatively high doses. [R]

Conclusion

Anavar is a synthetic analog of testosterone that increases protein synthesis in the body. Clinical research has shown that it can induce muscle growth, mean height velocity, and bone mineral content. Anavar may also induce a sustained decrease in body fat.