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Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "
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27.12.2008 |
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Androgens keep fat cells small
The researchers extracted subcutaneous fat cells from the abdominal area of women. They then exposed these cells for two days to 10 or 100 nanomoles of testosterone per litre. Ten nanomoles is high concentration that occurs naturally in female fat tissue.
Testosterone inhibits the uptake of glucose when insulin is present, as the graph above indicates.
There are two ways in which fat cells absorb glucose via insulin. One is through the enzyme protein kinase C zeta. This enzyme's action is inhibited if testosterone attaches itself to the androgen receptors in the fat cell. All adult fat and connective tissue cells have these receptors.
The researchers do not regard this effect as healthy. But don't forget, they are referring to overweight women with a high level of androgen, and not to athletes. Because overweight women have relatively little muscle to burn sugars, they are more likely to have high blood sugar levels.
It's not clear to what extent the results of this test-tube study apply to humans.
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