How does the FDA determine was is a steroid??

[strength]

Since coming back on the scene i have been reading alot about some hormones that so far are not labeled as steroids.  They are sold as Pro-hormones.  Seems like the supplement industry is always one step ahead and as soon as the FDA bans a supp, another one pops up in that "grey area".  Someone makes a little change in the chemical structure and BAM, its legal.

Any opinions?

[Overload]

There have been thousands of steroids made that never went to the market. Since they never hit the market, they never bothered banning them because they were only used in research.

Now, we see these steroids popping up as PH and once the FDA figures out what they are, they are banned.

Something along those lines.

[Knives]

I'm assuming you mean an anabolic steroid.  They probably just have to look at the chemical structure to determine what it is.

[Rimbaud]

There have been thousands of steroids made that never went to the market. Since they never hit the market, they never bothered banning them because they were only used in research.

Now, we see these steroids popping up as PH and once the FDA figures out what they are, they are banned.

Something along those lines.

I would have to agree with your assessment.

[RDW]

Your question is a bit more vague than you probably realize in order to be answered.  The FDA would define a steroid in general as just that, a steroid, which means it is a terpenoid lipid in a specific configuration with 4 carbon rings.  There are a number of groups (Animal, Plant, and Fungal steroids) and subgroups within those.  (ex. Animal -> Vertebrate -> Hormonal -> Sex -> Androstanes -> Testosterone).

Now you are probably talking about anabolic steroids, which means a steroid that promotes anabolism, again this can span across several groups as well.  Testosterone is an anabolic steroid, meaning that it promotes tissue growth and it is classified as a steroid.  HGH and insulin are both anabolic, but neither are steroids.  Androstanediol and it's precursors which were formerly sold as "Andro" are indeed anabolic as well as steroids, while their anabolic effects are relatively mild (albeit farily androgenic), they readily dehydrogenize with the 3b-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme, thus converting to testosterone, which is much more anabolic.  The same thing went for Androstenedione which also dehydrogenizes, but instead with the 17b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme, again to testosterone.  That is why these qualified as "steroids" with the pro-hormone law that was passed some years ago.

So there are specific guildlines for what is considered an "anabolic steroid", however the term "performance enchancer" is more accurate for many of today's peptides and hormones being used.

[chainsaw]

Your question is a bit more vague than you probably realize in order to be answered.  The FDA would define a steroid in general as just that, a steroid, which means it is a terpenoid lipid in a specific configuration with 4 carbon rings.  There are a number of groups (Animal, Plant, and Fungal steroids) and subgroups within those.  (ex. Animal -> Vertebrate -> Hormonal -> Sex -> Androstanes -> Testosterone).

Now you are probably talking about anabolic steroids, which means a steroid that promotes anabolism, again this can span across several groups as well.  Testosterone is an anabolic steroid, meaning that it promotes tissue growth and it is classified as a steroid.  HGH and insulin are both anabolic, but neither are steroids.  Androstanediol and it's precursors which were formerly sold as "Andro" are indeed anabolic as well as steroids, while their anabolic effects are relatively mild (albeit farily androgenic), they readily dehydrogenize with the 3b-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme, thus converting to testosterone, which is much more anabolic.  The same thing went for Androstenedione which also dehydrogenizes, but instead with the 17b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme, again to testosterone.  That is why these qualified as "steroids" with the pro-hormone law that was passed some years ago.

So there are specific guildlines for what is considered an "anabolic steroid", however the term "performance enchancer" is more accurate for many of today's peptides and hormones being used.


Good post, I also believe that is also how it is processed and made.  The actual process.