Total Flex Blog

Part 1 of this article explored some traditional methods of increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, and the consequent performance and endurance benefits. Part 2 discusses some less well-known erythropoietic drugs, and looks at whether boldenone could conceivably – as many have long suspected – increase red blood cell count more than other steroids.

In 1967, boldenone undecyclenate was being clinically evaluated by Ciba. At that time the drug was known by its internal moniker of BA-29038. Elderly men and women (aged 70-95) were given BA-29038 at a dosage of 50mg every two weeks for a period of 16 weeks. The expected increase in hematocrit (the percentage of blood made up of red blood cells) turned out to be relatively minor (from 41.74±3.1 to 43.3:±4.1), and was not statistically significant. ^[1] That the effects on erythropoiesis were so mild is not too surprising, given the extremely modest dosages involved (bodybuilders often inject doses 20 or more times greater than that used in this study on a weekly basis).

Another study, conducted in 1973 on horses by Squibb (makers of Equipoise^TM) also failed to show an increase in hematocrit in the study period (although again, it was injected at a low dose – so low that no statistically relevant anabolic effect was noted). ^[2]

If the clinical studies don’t support an erythropoietic effect, is there any good reason to suspect one? To understand the answer to this question it’s necessary to understand a little advanced steroid metabolism.
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