Nandrolone Decanoate, commonly known as Deca, is an Anabolic Androgenic Steroid (AAS) that is used for many therapeutic uses. It has a positive influence on calcium and protein metabolism and increases the rate of cell synthesis,  which has made it a common treatment for people suffering from Osteoporosis and other debilitating diseases. Deca also increases the body’s natural Collagen production, especially in cartilage, so it stimulates healing and reduces inflammation and pain in joints.

At a low dose, Deca can be used to treat these kinds of illnesses indefinitely with low risk of steroid-related symptoms. Deca has high anabolic effects, which is the increase of soft tissue growth, and low androgenic effects, to promote a major increase in muscle mass. The formation of muscle growth is caused by the tearing of myofibrils, the fiber strands that are bundled together to form a muscle. When these tissue fibers are damaged and torn the body repairs them with new fibers that are thicker, resulting in muscle hypertrophy, or the increase of muscle mass. The result of this process is greater strength and increased muscle size.

Androgenic hormones affect the development of male sex hormone characteristics. The biologically active form, 19-norandrosterone, is synthesized in the liver,  then sent to the target tissues in the body where it binds with cytosolic receptors, which activates cellular protein synthesis throughout those tissues. As the body repairs and replaces the damaged myofibrils, there is an increase in the amount of myofibrils produced and each one is much thicker and stronger than they would have been before Deca. It also stimulates the production of Insulin Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), which is another major hormone required for the synthesis of bone and soft tissue cells, including muscle fibers, while also increasing the body’s metabolism of glucose, which results in a decrease in the number of fat cells in the body.

Deca also increases the number of red blood cells in order to carry more oxygen and nitrogen to myofibrils to boost their rate of regeneration. So not only do muscle tissues heal stronger, they also heal faster. It is important to note that the visible results on muscle mass and strength from Deca take longer to notice than other popular anabolic steroids but the results are much easier to maintain after stopping its use, so there isn’t any major mass fluctuation that is commonly experienced with other anabolic steroids.