MuscleFreak
Well-known Member
https://joejefferycoaching.com/all-content/2020/5/5/clenbuterol-amp-cardiac-risk
Fat Loss
Clenbuterol is bad for the heart, right?
I am sure if you are from a bodybuilding background, you have read this, but have you ever seen any clinical data to support that?
If we could look at a human model, with pre-existing cardiac issues, using clenbuterol in astronomical dosages that we would never use, then we could paint a very clear picture of the safety profile of cardiac outcomes with this drug.
Well.. we can! [1]
Seven subjects with heart failure used clenbuterol for 12 weeks, starting at 120mcg and titrating up to a dose of over 700mcg/day.
Results:
Interestingly for our cohort, this study also looked at markers of skeletal muscle size and strength.
Significant increases in both size and strength were seen.
Although LBM increased 11.8% when measured via DEXA, the ratio of lean:fat tissue did not change.
To quote the discussion of this paper:
“The primary findings of this study are: (1) clenbuterol increases skeletal muscle mass and performance; and (2) its use in LVAD patients is safe and well-tolerated.”
This isn’t a unique study by any means, there are many other papers that use clenbuterol as part of a recovery protocol for individuals with very poor cardiac health.
Unlike the results of the above, which showed no improvement in cardiac function, but no worsening either, one study using the Harefield protocol (another titration up to 700mcg method) showed a profound improvement in cardiac function. [2]
To summarise on the above data, clenbuterol used at very large dosages over a period of up to 12 weeks in humans with severe cardiac issues either did not worsen, or profoundly improved cardiac function.
ADDITION:
This article was finished as above, but a friend (hey Jack) has just asked me about clenbuterol being potentially negative to cardiac function via depleting taurine.
This is true [3], however, the data has little relevance to us as…
[1] George I, Xydas S, Mancini DM, et al. Effect of clenbuterol on cardiac and skeletal muscle function during left ventricular assist device support. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2006;25(9):1084‐1090. doi:10.1016/j.healun.2006.06.017
[2] Hon JK, Yacoub MH. Bridge to recovery with the use of left ventricular assist device and clenbuterol. Ann Thorac Surg 2003;75(suppl):S36 – 41.
[3] Waterfield CJ, Jairath M, Asker DS, Timbrell JA. The biochemical effects of clenbuterol: with particular reference to taurine and muscle damage. Eur J Pharmacol. 1995;293(2):141‐149. doi:10.1016/0926-6917(95)00010-0
Fat Loss
Clenbuterol is bad for the heart, right?
I am sure if you are from a bodybuilding background, you have read this, but have you ever seen any clinical data to support that?
If we could look at a human model, with pre-existing cardiac issues, using clenbuterol in astronomical dosages that we would never use, then we could paint a very clear picture of the safety profile of cardiac outcomes with this drug.
Well.. we can! [1]
Seven subjects with heart failure used clenbuterol for 12 weeks, starting at 120mcg and titrating up to a dose of over 700mcg/day.
Results:
- no significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction
- left ventricular end diastolic diameter increased
- wall thickness did not change
- LV mass did trend upward, via changes in ventricular dimensions, not via an increase in mass
- no change in right ventricular dysfunction
- no change in aortic valve opening frequency
Interestingly for our cohort, this study also looked at markers of skeletal muscle size and strength.
Significant increases in both size and strength were seen.
Although LBM increased 11.8% when measured via DEXA, the ratio of lean:fat tissue did not change.
To quote the discussion of this paper:
“The primary findings of this study are: (1) clenbuterol increases skeletal muscle mass and performance; and (2) its use in LVAD patients is safe and well-tolerated.”
This isn’t a unique study by any means, there are many other papers that use clenbuterol as part of a recovery protocol for individuals with very poor cardiac health.
Unlike the results of the above, which showed no improvement in cardiac function, but no worsening either, one study using the Harefield protocol (another titration up to 700mcg method) showed a profound improvement in cardiac function. [2]
To summarise on the above data, clenbuterol used at very large dosages over a period of up to 12 weeks in humans with severe cardiac issues either did not worsen, or profoundly improved cardiac function.
ADDITION:
This article was finished as above, but a friend (hey Jack) has just asked me about clenbuterol being potentially negative to cardiac function via depleting taurine.
This is true [3], however, the data has little relevance to us as…
- This data has not been shown in humans, in fact, quite the opposite from what we see above with no adverse effects at very high-dose use
- The doses used in this study was 2mg/kg. Running the conversion of rodent to human dosing, that leaves us at 14800mcg/day.
[1] George I, Xydas S, Mancini DM, et al. Effect of clenbuterol on cardiac and skeletal muscle function during left ventricular assist device support. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2006;25(9):1084‐1090. doi:10.1016/j.healun.2006.06.017
[2] Hon JK, Yacoub MH. Bridge to recovery with the use of left ventricular assist device and clenbuterol. Ann Thorac Surg 2003;75(suppl):S36 – 41.
[3] Waterfield CJ, Jairath M, Asker DS, Timbrell JA. The biochemical effects of clenbuterol: with particular reference to taurine and muscle damage. Eur J Pharmacol. 1995;293(2):141‐149. doi:10.1016/0926-6917(95)00010-0
