What Is Boldenone And How Does It Affect The Body?

Dr. Harshi Dhingra, MBBS, MD
Published by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, MBBS, MD | Medical Doctor
Last updated: October 15, 2024
FACT CHECKED by Dr. Kristy Dayanan, BS, MD
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As a health medical doctor, I spend most of my days working with patients, trying to perfect their workout routines.

And over the years, I’ve gained enough experience to quickly spot those who are building up lean muscle mass way too soon for their training routines.

Boldenone undecylenate, a common anabolic steroid, can enhance muscle building but poses serious health risks.

I've researched and consulted colleagues to clarify the risks of Boldenone in my patients.

Quick Summary

  • Boldenone is an anabolic steroid used in veterinary medicine that can illicitly enhance muscle growth in humans.
  • It's approved for treating weight and muscle loss in horses but not for human use due to serious health risks.
  • In 2018, 87 athletes were reported by USADA to have tested positive for Boldenone, indicating its prevalent but banned status in sports.
  • I believe that the risks associated with Boldenone, including legal issues and health dangers, make it an unworthy choice for muscle building.

What Does Boldenone Do?

Holding a small syringe

Boldenone, an anabolic steroid primarily used in veterinary medicine, promotes muscle growth and weight gain in debilitated horses but is not approved for human use to treat low testosterone [1].

While it’s not uncommon for veterinary use drugs to eventually be modified for human use, there is currently no human version of Boldenone available.

It's banned in horse racing due to its performance-enhancing effects.

The National Library of Medicine mentions that strict laws prohibit its use as an animal growth promoter due to potential traces in human food [2].

“Boldenone is an androgenic steroid that improves the growth and food conversion in food-producing animals. In most countries worldwide, this anabolic steroid is forbidden for meat production.”

- Bruno Le Bizec, Co-author of Criteria to Distinguish Between Natural Situations & Illegal Use of Boldenone Study

Boldenone's primary use is to help debilitated horses gain weight and muscle [3].

Is Boldenone A Banned Substance In Sports?

Yes, Boldenone is indeed a banned substance in sports, detectable by blood tests, and prohibited for use in racehorses due to its potential for enhancing strength and performance.

Despite the ban, some athletes still use Boldenone for quick muscle gains. According to USADA data, 87 athletes tested positive for Boldenone in 2018 [4].

It’s easily detectable in common drug tests and can cause long-lasting suspensions.

What Are The Side Effects Of Boldenone?

Naked man having a heart ache

Boldenone can have several side effects, including increased estrogen levels, androgenic effects such as acne and oily skin, cardiovascular issues like high blood pressure, and concerns about its potential as a carcinogen.

  • Increased Estrogen - It might sound strange that anabolic androgenic steroids cause estrogenic side effects, but the body transforms increased T levels into estrogen. This can cause water retention and gynecomastia [5].
  • Androgenic Effects - The Library expresses that even though Boldenone has low androgenic potency, users must expect problems like acne, oily skin, hair growth, and increased red blood cell production [6].
  • Cardiovascular Effects - One of the more serious problems with Boldenone is higher blood pressure, which can place a lot more strain on the heart and lead to dangerous cardiac issues [7].
  • Cancer-Causing - There are also reports that it’s a probable human carcinogen; however, the International Agency for Research on Cancer hasn’t conclusively listed it as a cancer-causing drug. That could be related to the fact that it’s not licensed for human use in the first place.

A much safer approach to gaining a natural T-level boost is with natural supplements.

The line of products that I’ve seen the best long-term results for my patients is the CrazyBulk Stack. It combines a few different supplements with natural vitamins, minerals, and herbs to trigger a completely natural response in the body.

Boldenone Availability

Injecting a syringe

Despite its medical classification, I've known of cases where Boldenone was sourced for human use, which is illegal and unsafe.

Boldenone, like other steroids, is a prescription drug for animals, not for human use.

Athletes sometimes illegally obtain Boldenone from the black market for performance enhancement. I caution against such practices due to the significant risks and side effects.

Natural supplements can legally boost testosterone without overnight results. Proper training and diet can naturally increase testosterone levels over time.

Related Steroid Articles:

FAQs

Does Boldenone Increase Vascularity?

Yes, Boldenone may increase vascularity. This is a common side effect of most anabolic drugs, and it’s an obvious sign of steroid usage when bodybuilders have bulging veins even when muscles are relaxed.

What Is Another Name for Boldenone?

Equipoise and Parenabol are other names for Boldenone. These are licensed names for use in veterinary medicine and are not supposed to be used for human injection.


References:

  1. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=522.204
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17084871/
  3. https://www.drugs.com/vet/equipoise.html
  4. https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/education/5-thing-athlete-know-boldenone/
  5. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/gynecomastia
  6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17274777/
  7. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/boldenone
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About The Author

Dr. Harshi Dhingra, MBBS, MD is a published peer-reviewed author and renowned physician from India with over a decade of experience. With her MBBS from Bharati Vidyapeeth and an MD from Rajiv Gandhi University, she actively ensures the accuracy of online dietary supplement and medical information by reviewing and fact-checking health publications.
Learn more about our editorial policy
Dr. Kristy June Dayanan, BS, MD is an author with a BS degree from University of the Philippines and an MD from University of Perpetual Help System. Her ability to simplify medical science complexities and dietary supplement jargon for the average reader makes her a valued medical fact checker and reviewer.
Learn more about our editorial policy

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