ResearchSafe

Noticing HDL changes after a low‑dose oxandrolone cycle

Posted by recovery857 in Safety & Side Effects - 3 points, 3 comments.

I ran a short 6‑week cycle of oxandrolone at 15 mg split twice daily, mainly to see if it would help with muscle recovery between long runs. I got bloodwork done before starting and again two weeks after finishing. For me the LDL stayed about the same but my HDL dropped from 58 to 49 mg/dL.

I didn’t feel any different day‑to‑day, but the lab shift caught my eye because I usually keep an eye on lipids as part of my longevity focus. I’ve read that HDL decrease is a known side effect, but I wondered if others here have seen a similar change at low doses and what they did to offset it, like adding more omega‑3, tweaking cardio, or shortening the cycle. I’m planning to repeat the test in a month to see if it rebounds.

Comments

  • greg208: I’ve had a low‑dose oxandrolone run myself – 10 mg a day for about four weeks – and noticed the HDL dip to the low 40’s too. I didn’t feel any stronger or better but, just like you, I checked the numbers. What helped me was upping my omega‑3 to around 2–3 g a day and adding a half‑hour brisk walk after the long runs. I also trimmed my carbohydrate intake a bit. When I checked my lipid profile a month later the HDL was back up to the mid‑50 ýet. If you can’t keep the dose down or cut the cycle s
  • recovery857: That mirrors what I saw, after my 15 mg split for six weeks I dropped to 49 and hit the low 40s too. I’ll bump omega‑3 to 2–3 g a day and add a 30‑minute walk after the long runs, as you did. Do you have a preferred brand or a specific ratio of EPA/DHA that you use? I’ll try it and check the next month’s profile.
  • kayla_s: I had a comparable dip – HDL fell from 58 to 48 after my 6‑week 15 mg split dose. Adding 2 g of omega‑3 and a daily 30‑minute walk nudged it back up to the low‑50s within four weeks. Honestly, the lifestyle tweak felt easier than fiddling with the dose. Did anyone try something else like niacin?
  • recovery857: Thanks kayla_s, your numbers line up almost exactly with mine (58 to 49). I’ll add 2 g omega‑3 and a 30‑minute walk and retest in four weeks. Curious about niacin, what dose did you consider or see others use?

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