Also making a regular appearance in prohormone formulations prior to the amendments of the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 was 19-Norandrostenedione (NOR).It is a precursor to the well-known anabolic steroid Nandralone. It was also banned by the FDA and possession of it is a federal crime.

A scientific study showed the oral administration of NOR to be ineffective at stimulating skeletal muscle mass increases (11). This same study, did however show NOR to stimulate skeletal muscle mass increases when administered subcutaneously. 

This difference between effectiveness of oral administration versus subcutaneous administration is an important point to note – as most prohormone supplements are delivered orally, and will therefore be ineffective. This is because of the liver breakdown of the orally administered NOR. By administering it subcutaneously, this is avoided. 

Conclusion: Should you use prohormones, are they worth it?

Evidence clearly points to the fact that most of these substances are ineffective at producing significant gains in muscle size and strength in the majority of male populations. Even where studies have not outright proven an ingredient to be ineffective, results have been inconclusive and/or statistically insignificant. 

There is a great deal of anecdotal evidence out there though – many claiming good results and reporting great gains on some of these products. 

My take on it is that the science has shown them to be ineffective; and the gains people have experienced, while not to be completely discounted, are in my opinion, largely due to a placebo type effect. 

Usually when one starts taking a new supplement they feel more inspired, excited and motivated about their training. They are more likely to train harder and more diligently. 

Also, they are likely concurrently increasing their protein intake; this is often the recommendation of the supplement companies when taking their prohormones or other products.

Therefore, the gains people experience are likely due to the fact they are now finally training hard enough and getting adequate protein, not necessarily due to the prohormones.

Now before people start saying the supplement they are taking has different ingredients to those I have highlighted, realize that when the ban on some of the above ingredients occurred in 2004, the supplement companies were hit hard by it.

They had to modify their supplements to keep them legal. To keep their products on the shelves, they removed the Andro and NOR, and added in other crap, most of which is now some herbal extract (often Tribulus Terrestris) claimed to boost testosterone.

As we have seen, even many of the ‘steroid-like’ compounds now banned, failed to boost testosterone and build muscle. The ‘natural stuff’ like Tribulus also failed to provide any real benefits according to the literature. 

So whilst I have not reviewed every ingredient in every product – an entire book would need to be written for that, it is my opinion that many of these ‘replacement ingredients’ added after the ban on Andro and NOR, are just that, second rate replacements to ingredients  that were already ineffective.

So to conclude, personally, I’d not waste my money on prohormones. But, if you’d like to give them a try, then do your homework, look for legitimate laboratory studies regarding the supplement you intend using, and ALWAYS be skeptical of what supplement companies will have you believe, because as is often the case, the only thing you’ll be getting from them is some nice, expensive urine.