Hey Guys,
This week I’ve been thinking about the liver a lot, mainly in regards to keeping it from getting inflamed (fatty liver) and improving the 5-Alpha Reductase Activity wherein (C19 and C21 enzyme activity).
First of all, any liver damage done by finasteride, i.e. too many supplements, diet, or any other drugs needs to be completely minimized and controlled. There are some supplements that can help the liver detox and stuff, and I think that these can be used, but I’m not really too sure exactly which ones yet, or at what dosages. I’m trying out Liv 52, and plan on doing a liver cleanse at some point soon as well.
Now on to the trickier part… How do we boost 5-alpha reductase hepatic activity? Well, in reading over a lot of stuff, Paul Walters seems to be one guy that really really seemed to come back to 100% (His claim of the extremely itchy scalp, which returned for me along with my libido for a week soon after quitting, only to fall with the return of my other sides… Really hit home with me. His 5-Alpha Reductase was “in full swing.” In fact, everyone who recovers or feels better for periods uses this as a marker… “The Itchy Scalp.” It think definitely for me, I fit that profile as well). His routine seems pretty benign and similar to others with exception of his GHB use.
So, I just found this study regarding Growth Hormone and 5-Alpha Reductase enzyme activity. I wasn’t sure if it had already been posted, but I wanted to throw it out there in this post:
jbc.org/cgi/content/abstract/265/31/19223
Pretranslational control by thyroid hormone of rat liver steroid 5 alpha-reductase and comparison to the thyroid dependence of two growth hormone-regulated CYP2C mRNAs
PA Ram and DJ Waxman
Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
The sexually differentiated microsomal enzyme steroid 5 alpha-reductase (NADPH: delta 4-3-oxosteroid 5 alpha-oxido-reductase, EC 1.3.99.5) catalyzes the NADPH-dependent conversion of testosterone to 5 alpha- dihydrotestosterone, a more potent androgen. In rat liver, this enzyme is expressed at a 10-fold higher level in adult females as compared to adult males. The pituitary regulation of this enzyme and its mRNA was studied in untreated and hypophysectomized rats and in rats rendered hypothyroid by treatment with the antithyroid drug methimazole. Hepatic 5 alpha-reductase activity was elevated 8-fold, to 85% of adult female levels, in adult male rats given growth hormone by continuous infusion. This same treatment was only partially effective in restoring 5 alpha- reductase in rats depleted of endogenous growth hormone by hypophysectomy, indicating that other pituitary-dependent factors contribute to the elevation observed in the inact animals. Further analysis revealed that thyroxine, but not adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or chorionic gonadotropin, could elevate 5 alpha-reductase activity and mRNA when given to the hypophysectomized rats and that this effect was enhanced by the presence of growth hormone. This thyroid hormone dependence was confirmed by the decrease in hepatic 5 alpha-reductase expression in hypothyroid rats and by its substantial restoration following thyroxine replacement. Thyroxine also stimulated expression of another female-predominant hepatic mRNA, encoding the steroid 16 alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P-450f (IIC7), in a manner that was independent of the stimulatory effect of growth hormone on this transcript. In contrast, thyroid hormone did not significantly affect protein or mRNA levels of the growth hormone-stimulated, female- specific steroid sulfate 15 beta-hydroxylase P-450 2d (IIC12). These findings establish that thyroid hormones act at a pretranslational level to modulate the expression of some, but not all, growth hormone- stimulated hepatic mRNAs and demonstrate that both thyroxine and growth hormone can independently contribute to the sex-dependent expression of hepatic enzymes of steroid metabolism.
My Analysis of this:
It basically says that Growth Hormone and Thyroxine (T3) were synergistic in increasing 5-Alpha Reductase Enzyme hepatic activity. Knowing that GHB has an intense growth hormone release associated with its mechanism, as well as thyroid hormone being secreted during stage 3 sleep… I’m beginning to wonder if there is a really significant connection here.
I’ve been trying to boost GH with Glutamine (Probably not working), and that itchy feeling on my scalp is intermittent and minimal right now (it’s there, just less). This tells me that sleep is the main thing, that sleep is the key to all of this (Really really good sleep). GHB/Xyrem, though dangerous, could be a drug that induces just the right kind of sleep necessary for people in our situation.
The other situation many of us are in regarding libido/sensitivity/anxiety I attribute directly to neurotransmitters (and probably some test / dht as well). I feel this way because of people on SSRI’s similar descriptions of weaker orgasms and sensation on their penis. This is something that GHB/Xyrem could potentially help as well (Or harm if used improperly). It definitely seems to act on neurotransmitters and release oxytocin. Regardless, i think the Edge Effect can help here as well.
I think we’re seeing patterns in recoveries though: Sleep and Dopamine Enhancement over long periods of time (remember the GH - Dopamine relationship).
I’ve been really worried about this shit being irreversible recently… And I don’t think that’s the case. I think we can all bounce back. Downregulation of 5-AR combined with getting strung out due to the mental effects killing your sleep make recovery really difficult. Also, many of us develop infections in our digestive tracts and prostates, which complicates things as well.
Also, another note… The Dermacrine Sustain recoveries… Resveratrol is a potent P450 hepatic enzyme inhibitor, and I wonder if that had any play in anyone’s recovery.
Food for thought. I wish everyone well.