#274 – Performance-enhancing drugs and hormones: risks, rewards, and broader implications for the public | Derek: More Plates, More Dates | The Peter Attia Drive

Intro

In this episode of “The Peter Attia Drive” podcast, Peter Attia interviews Derek from More Plates More Dates, a fitness educator and entrepreneur with expertise in molecules used and abused by bodybuilders and athletes. The conversation focuses on the use of performance-enhancing drugs and hormones in bodybuilding and what can be learned for the general population. This episode is part one of a series, with a part two planned for the future.

Main Takeaways

Performance-enhancing drugs in bodybuilding

• Using synthetic hormones for bodybuilding can have severe side effects, including sleep apnea and cognitive health issues.
• There are diminishing returns as hormone dosages escalate, and managing side effects can be complicated.
• Dosages and ratios of synthetic androgens were often determined by anecdote rather than science.
• Attention was not paid to preventative health measures such as blood pressure or choosing compounds intelligently.
• Anabolic steroid use was not based on anything scientific, but rather on personal choice.

Growth hormone and its effects

• Growth hormone use is variable in how people respond and can be cost-prohibitive.
• Growth hormone is often perceived to enhance muscle and prevent fat gain, but these claims are not true.
• Research on the effects of growth hormone is limited and narrow compared to other hormones.
• Growth hormone is being used for surgical enhancement of height, with potential long-term risks to bone health and athletic capacity.
• Some people are willing to go to extreme lengths for this enhancement, including undergoing surgeries to add screws to their knees.

Peptides and their effects

• Peptides like CJC1295 and Samorra Lynn act on GHRP and GHRH receptors.
• GHRP peptides can drive hyperphagia, but effects on appetite vary by compound.
• GHRH peptides have different effects on appetite, with varying results depending on the compound.
• Tessimorlin and Samorlin are the primary GHRH peptides used in clinics, with Tessimorlin being more commonly used.
• The combination of Tessimorlin and IPemrellen is the primary combo utilized in clinics.

Hormone optimization and its challenges

• Optimizing hormone levels can be challenging, as individual responses vary.
• Testing and monitoring hormone levels, such as IGF-1 and estrogen, are crucial for determining optimal dosages.
• Exogenous testosterone can be safely and effectively used for hormone optimization.
• Proper dosing and injection frequency are important for maintaining steady hormone concentrations.
• Estrogen is important for cardiovascular and neurological health, as well as mood regulation and temperature control.

Anabolic agents and their effects

• Anabolic agents were developed to treat muscle wasting in energy-sensitive individuals, without causing extreme virilization.
• Side effects of anabolic compounds can sometimes be desired, such as water retention with Anadrol.
• Compounding pharmacies can make banned compounds, like Trenbolone.
• Deca is a steroid that can result in bodybuilder-level results without hair loss because of its unique interaction with the body.
• Professional bodybuilding is not tested, so athletes take anything and everything as often as they want.

Summary

The use and effects of performance-enhancing drugs and hormones in bodybuilding

In this episode of “The Peter Attia Drive” podcast, Peter Attia interviews Derek from More Plates More Dates, a fitness educator and entrepreneur with deep knowledge of the molecules used and abused by bodybuilders and athletes. The conversation delves into the use of performance-enhancing drugs and hormones in bodybuilding and explores what can be learned from this world for the general population.

Derek shares his personal journey of getting into weightlifting and nutrition in grade 11, starting at a weight of 138 pounds. He highlights the severe side effects that can arise from using synthetic hormones for bodybuilding, including sleep apnea and cognitive health issues. The dosages and ratios of synthetic androgens were often determined by anecdote rather than science, and preventative health measures such as blood pressure monitoring were often overlooked.

Growth hormone use in bodybuilding is variable in how individuals respond and can be cost-prohibitive. Contrary to popular belief, growth hormone does not enhance muscle growth or prevent fat gain. Research on the effects of growth hormone is limited compared to other hormones, and its use for surgical enhancement of height comes with potential long-term risks to bone health and athletic capacity.

The conversation also explores the use of peptides, such as GHRP and GHRH peptides, in clinics. These peptides have varying effects on appetite and are used in combination to optimize hormone levels. Hormone optimization can be challenging due to individual responses, and proper testing and monitoring of hormone levels are crucial for determining optimal dosages.

Anabolic agents, developed to treat muscle wasting, are used in bodybuilding to enhance muscle growth. Compounding pharmacies can create banned compounds like Trenbolone. Deca, a steroid known for its muscle-building effects without hair loss, is popular among bodybuilders. Professional bodybuilding is not tested, allowing athletes to take various substances as often as they want.

Conclusion

This episode sheds light on the use of performance-enhancing drugs and hormones in bodybuilding and provides insights that can be applied to the general population. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the risks and side effects associated with these substances and highlights the need for evidence-based approaches to hormone optimization. By learning from the experiences and knowledge of bodybuilders, individuals can make informed decisions about their own health and fitness journeys.