title: Quantitative determination of metabolic products of 19-norandrostenediol in human plasma using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
abstract: Prohormones such as 19-norandrostenediol (estr-4-ene-3beta,17beta-diol) have been added to the list of prohibited substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency because they are metabolized to the common nandrolone metabolites norandrosterone and noretiocholanolone. So far, no studies on the metabolism and in vivo conversion of 19-norandrostenediol after oral or sublingual administration have been reported nor have had quantified data on resulting plasma nandrolone levels. In the present study, an open-label crossover trial with eight healthy male volunteers was conducted. After application of capsules or sublingual tablets of 19-norandrostenediol plasma concentrations of 19-norandrostenediol, nandrolone as well as major metabolites (19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone) were determined using a validated assay based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The administration of 100-mg capsules of 19-norandrostenediol yielded maximum plasma total concentrations (i.e., conjugated plus unconjugated compounds) of 1.1 ng/ml (+/-0.7) for 19-norandrostenediol, 4.0 ng/ml (+/-2.6) for nandrolone, 154.8 ng/ml (+/-130.8) for 19-norandrosterone, and 37.7 ng/ml (+/-6.9) for 19-noretiocholanolone. The use of 25-mg sublingual tablets resulted in 3.3 ng/ml (+/-1.0) for 19-norandrostenediol, 11.0 ng/ml (+/-6.4) for nandrolone, 106.3 ng/ml (+/-40.1) for 19-norandrosterone, and 28.5 ng/ml (+/-20.8) for 19-noretiocholanolone. Most interestingly, the pharmacologically active unconjugated nandrolone was determined after administration of sublingual tablets (up to 5.7 ng/ml) in contrast to capsule applications. These results demonstrate the importance of prohibiting prohormones such as 19-norandrostenediol, in particular, since plasma concentrations of nandrolone between 0.3 to 1.2 ng/ml have been reported to influence endocrinological parameters.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Carl-Diem-Weg 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany. y.schrader@biochem.dshs-koeln.de
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thevis
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schänzer
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000097:blood*; D000734:Androstenediols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002214:Capsules; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004300:Doping in Sports; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000097:blood*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D013607:Tablets
chemical_list: C438965:19-nor-4-androstene-3,17-diol; D045930:Anabolic Agents; D000734:Androstenediols; D002214:Capsules; D013607:Tablets; D009277:Nandrolone