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There have been a few threads on here, and lots of articles floating around after this went on the banned list. I though I'd summarize my research and personal experience, and hopefully save others from my mistakes!
NB This thread is just about Meldonium, to hopefully stop people making a mistake trying it. Please don't fill it with posts about better alternatives (eg Cardarine/ SARMs/ Roids) There's enough threads on here on how those DO work
.
If you research Meldonium there's generally two main aspects to how it performs:
1 - It improves blood flow
2 - It protects the heart
I tried it based on the first aspect, but really wish I'd found better articles, as it took me a lot of digging to properly understand this drug.
Meldonium is antiischemic, which means it stops things that stop blood flow, and while this may mean it improves blood flow, it's not necessarily the case. It works by blocking the use of fat for energy, which it turn prevents the production of by-products that harm the heart and arteries. Or more technically "inhibits carnitine biosynthesis in order to prevent accumulation of cytotoxic intermediate products of fatty acid beta-oxidation in ischemic tissues and to block this highly oxygen-consuming process".
In effect this means it blocks carnitine from working, and thus utilization of fat for energy. The benefit of this is it drives your body to use glucose/ glycogen, which is a quicker process, and uses less oxygen. This is where it gets its performance enhancing reputation from. In theory it means more energy/endurance.
However the downside is it blocks the use of fat for energy. This is major for many athletes, as even at a low body fat percentage there are still thousands of calories available from fat, whereas glycogen is limited by what's stored in your muscles, and what you can take in while exercising. It also means it will slow, or stop, fat loss! What's worse is I've been unable to establish how long this effect remains in place. It has a comparatively short half life, around 5 hours, however evidence has shown it can stay in your systems for months.
I think there's a place for its use:
> If you're already really lean, or not concerned about fat loss.
> If you participate in sprint events, where you need the quick access to energy.
> Medically to protect your heart.
Having spent a long time getting my system to adjust and burn fat for endurance, this was the worst thing I could have taken, and really screwed my training, and contributed to putting on fat - I'd have to put it in the don't touch it with a long pointy stick category!
- - - Updated - - -
Gah, as soon as I post I remember another point.
Another possible use for Meldonium is just before a competition, when carbing up, as it will help drive the carbs into the muscles, rather than to fat cells. This is a bit more theoretical, but seems logical, as long as the overall calorie intake isn't too excessive.
NB This thread is just about Meldonium, to hopefully stop people making a mistake trying it. Please don't fill it with posts about better alternatives (eg Cardarine/ SARMs/ Roids) There's enough threads on here on how those DO work
.If you research Meldonium there's generally two main aspects to how it performs:
1 - It improves blood flow
2 - It protects the heart
I tried it based on the first aspect, but really wish I'd found better articles, as it took me a lot of digging to properly understand this drug.
Meldonium is antiischemic, which means it stops things that stop blood flow, and while this may mean it improves blood flow, it's not necessarily the case. It works by blocking the use of fat for energy, which it turn prevents the production of by-products that harm the heart and arteries. Or more technically "inhibits carnitine biosynthesis in order to prevent accumulation of cytotoxic intermediate products of fatty acid beta-oxidation in ischemic tissues and to block this highly oxygen-consuming process".
In effect this means it blocks carnitine from working, and thus utilization of fat for energy. The benefit of this is it drives your body to use glucose/ glycogen, which is a quicker process, and uses less oxygen. This is where it gets its performance enhancing reputation from. In theory it means more energy/endurance.
However the downside is it blocks the use of fat for energy. This is major for many athletes, as even at a low body fat percentage there are still thousands of calories available from fat, whereas glycogen is limited by what's stored in your muscles, and what you can take in while exercising. It also means it will slow, or stop, fat loss! What's worse is I've been unable to establish how long this effect remains in place. It has a comparatively short half life, around 5 hours, however evidence has shown it can stay in your systems for months.
I think there's a place for its use:
> If you're already really lean, or not concerned about fat loss.
> If you participate in sprint events, where you need the quick access to energy.
> Medically to protect your heart.
Having spent a long time getting my system to adjust and burn fat for endurance, this was the worst thing I could have taken, and really screwed my training, and contributed to putting on fat - I'd have to put it in the don't touch it with a long pointy stick category!
- - - Updated - - -
Gah, as soon as I post I remember another point.
Another possible use for Meldonium is just before a competition, when carbing up, as it will help drive the carbs into the muscles, rather than to fat cells. This is a bit more theoretical, but seems logical, as long as the overall calorie intake isn't too excessive.
