Bodybuilders and athletes often seek to enhance their performance and physique by turning to oral anabolic steroids such as Turinabol vs Anavar Chemically (chlorodehydromethyltestosterone) vs (oxandrolone).
Both Anavar and Turinabol have a significant impact on body composition, despite their distinct chemical structures.
Turinabol, known by some as ‘baby dbol,’ is closely related to methandrostenolone (Dianabol), whereas Anavar is derived from dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Gains in Muscle and Strength
In the hierarchy of anabolic steroids, Anavar and Turinabol are considered less harsh, yet they deliver considerable results in muscle growth and strength enhancement.
For mass accumulation, Turinabol is preferred, often labeled as a lean mass-building agent. Contrastingly, Anavar is typically used in cutting phases, yielding less mass compared to Turinabol.
Beginners on a 6-week Turinabol cycle have been known to pack on more than 15 pounds of lean muscle. Anavar cycles can lead newcomers to experience an increase of approximately 10 to 12 pounds.
Despite not promoting excessive weight gain due to their non-aromatizing nature, both Anavar and Turinabol significantly bolster strength.
Fat Reduction
While neither steroid directly causes weight loss, they both contribute to the decrease in subcutaneous fat and help maintain minimal water retention.
Turinabol, acting as an exogenous source of testosterone (a hormone with fat-burning properties), can moderately reduce fat, making it a viable option for cutting by minimizing water retention and enhancing muscle definition.
Anavar stands out for fat loss as it elevates triiodothyronine (T3) levels, the active thyroid hormone that amps up fat breakdown.
Anavar enhances T3 production by diminishing the efficacy of TBG (thyroid-binding globulin) and elevating the activity of TBP (thyroxine-binding prealbumin), which in turn boosts the conversion of T4 to T3. This shift is beneficial for bodybuilders since T3 is the potent form that promotes fat loss while T4 is less active.
While anabolic steroids like Turinabol reduce subcutaneous fat, they may increase visceral fat, which can lead to a bloated appearance in bodybuilders’ midsections.
Anavar is the exception, with evidence showing its ability to decrease both subcutaneous and visceral fat by improving insulin sensitivity, leading to considerable overall fat reduction, particularly in the abdominal area.
However, the anabolic properties of Turinabol and Anavar surpass their fat-burning capabilities.
Turinabol vs Anavar Usage in Women
Considering the risk of virilization, women typically avoid most anabolic steroids. Our clinic has observed masculinizing effects such as:
- Deepening of the voice
- Enlarged clitoris
- Increased body hair
- Hair loss due to androgenic effects
- Enhanced jaw size
- Prominent Adam’s apple
Nevertheless, conservative doses of Turinabol and Anavar have enabled female users to effectively mitigate these side effects.
These steroids were initially developed with specific goals in mind. Anavar was created to enhance anabolism in those with muscle wasting and growth delays, aiming for minimal virilizing outcomes. Conversely, Turinabol was engineered by German scientists to aid their athletes, particularly female gymnasts and swimmers, thus it was beneficial to minimize masculinizing effects to maintain a female athlete’s appearance.
For beginner female bodybuilders, a standard Anavar cycle would include a conservative dosage:
| Week | Anavar |
| 1 | 5 mg / day |
| 2 | 5 mg / day |
| 3 | 10 mg / day |
| 4 | 10 mg / day |
| 5 | 10 mg / day |
Exceeding 10 mg/day or extending the cycle beyond 5 to 6 weeks can increase virilization risks.
A typical Turinabol cycle for female beginners might be outlined as:
| Week | Turinabol |
| 1 | 5mg / day |
| 2 | 5mg / day |
| 3 | 5mg / day |
| 4 | 5mg / day |
| 5 | 5mg / day |
At low dosages, the risk of developing secondary male characteristics is low, yet the possibility of muscle growth, strength improvement, and fat loss remains.
Misuse of Turinabol with high dosages or protracted cycles (over 5 to 6 weeks) intensifies the likelihood of virilizing effects.
Adverse Effects
Among our patients, Turinabol and Anavar are considered to be some of the safest steroids, with the least detrimental impact on health.
Liver Concerns
Mild hepatotoxicity is a common occurrence with Anavar and Turinabol due to their c-17 alpha-alkylated nature, reflecting in moderate increases in liver enzyme markers like ALT and AST.
Liver Considerations
The liver’s robust capacity for recovery typically shields most patients from complications. Nevertheless, bodybuilders with current or past liver conditions, as well as those on hepatotoxic drugs, should abstain from using oral anabolic steroids altogether.
Cardiovascular Health
Negative cardiovascular repercussions are a common thread among anabolic steroids, yet Turinabol and Anavar are deemed relatively less harmful based on our patients’ blood work analysis.
This is quite distinctive for oral steroids, which are known to exert more pronounced adverse effects on cholesterol by activating hepatic lipase, an enzyme that compromises HDL cholesterol levels.
Oral steroids such as Anadrol, Dianabol, Superdrol, and Winstrol have shown to be particularly harmful to heart health in our observations. Turinabol and Anavar, on the other hand, signal a lower risk for conditions like high blood pressure due to their milder impact.
Caution: Individuals with a history of high blood pressure or familial cardiomyopathy should steer clear of all anabolic steroids.
Testosterone Levels
Usage of anabolic steroids invariably leads to the suppression of natural testosterone production to varying degrees, from moderate to complete disruption of the HPTA.
Anavar and Turinabol typically induce only a modest decline in testosterone levels, with a return to baseline occurring several weeks after a cycle’s end.
The normalization of testosterone is often seen within 30 days or less with the application of a comprehensive PCT.
Persistent anabolic steroid use without sufficient intervals can prolong the time needed for natural testosterone replenishment.
Effects on Hair
While Anavar is often thought to be harmless to hair due to lacking interaction with the 5-alpha reductase enzyme, and possessing a low androgenic rating of 25, it is, in fact, a derivative of DHT, known to induce hair thinning by shrinking hair follicles.
Consequently, it is not uncommon for patients to report hair thinning while using Anavar, which may be reversible after DHT levels normalize post-cycle, though frequent use coupled with a genetic inclination toward male pattern baldness may accelerate hair loss over time.
Conversely, Turinabol, derived from methandrostenolone (Dianabol) and featuring minimal androgenic properties, seems to better safeguard against hair thinning and regression.
Conclusion
Lean muscle mass seekers might favor Turinabol as it generally contributes to slightly more muscle gain compared to Anavar.
For those aiming for fat reduction, Anavar emerges as the superior choice due to its enhanced fat-burning capacity.
Regarding safety and side effects, both steroids exhibit a gentle profile, especially when contrasted with other more aggressive anabolic steroids.
REFERENCES
(1) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s004310050563
(2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15472177/
(3) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32736958/
Dr. Grant Fourie, a specialist in male hormones, is based in Cape Town, South Africa. He provides comprehensive treatments for conditions related to low testosterone, such as erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and mood changes. His methods include hormone replacement therapy and other modern treatment options.
Contact me via email or phone to book personal appointment in my clinic: The Village Square, Cape Town - South Africa