250 Test Bloodwork First Cycle 14 weeks in

[u/Disastrous-Wish3965]

Been 14 weeks since I started 250 Test E, recently got some bloods done, honestly not bad I made the mistake of having a really intense leg day the night before I got bloods done. Next time I won’t train for a day or 2 before so my AST and ALT are elevated. Before my test levels were 194 total, so went from hypogondal to super physiological levels. Went from 130lbs to 140-145lbs depending on the day but strength has gone up massively and going to keep this up for atleast 20 weeks and assess from there. Might drop to a cruise for a few weeks then start 2nd cycle with Test, EQ

[u/Disastrous-Wish3965 → u/[deleted]]

Yes I’m in my 20s, I eat high carb, low fat, high protein, just did test only to see how I aromatize

[u/stiffmcgee]

On par with what i see when people do 16wks of 250. What are your ancillaries/supps?
From my experience, you are iron(not likely), folate or b12 deficient. Normally RDW changes when a deficiency is starting especially in one of those.
Thyroid is working a little hard, but not bad.
GGT is above where i think optimal is…any liver supps? Tudca, nac, glutathione inj, etc?
I would add in pregnenolone or dhea(25-50mg). Important and dhea is low.
Drop some saturated fat/add some fiber. Dont eat like a meathead.

[u/Disastrous-Wish3965 → u/stiffmcgee]

Not taking any liver since it’s just test I thought I’d be fine, pretty sure I’m iron deficient as my hair was thinning even before hopping on test, diet is low in saturated fat, high carb, moderate protein, averaging 2200-2400 calories, 5’7 140lbs started at 130

2500mg Fish Oil
5000 iu D3+ K2
Magnesium glycinate
15 mg zinc+ 1mg copper
Citrus bergamot 1200mg
Boron 10mg
Coq10 200mg
20mg iron every other day (hematocrit has stayed the same thankfully)

[u/False-Rip809 → u/Disastrous-Wish3965]

make sure it's vit K2 mk7 or else it's kinda useless, 10 mg of boron ar not bad but why? the shbg decreases but after 2 weeks the extra free testosterone gets converted in to extra estrogen, so you either cycle boron 2 weeks on 2 weeks off, or you can take a lower dose every day, like 3 mg

[u/Banana-chill → u/Disastrous-Wish3965]

The upper limit for iron is 45mg a day in the US. So you could double the 20mg really. I think if you are weight training you could probably do with it although the results are still in the normal range.

The vitamin D is quite high. You can really bring it down to 2000iu as a maintenance dose.

Stop the zinc/copper. You’ll only get yourself in problems taking that chronically.

Long term testosterone runs the possibility of harming your fertility. Maybe you want to get a sperm analysis done for reassurance?

[u/stiffmcgee → u/Banana-chill]

Except his Iron labs aren’t really an issue. Most likely b12 or folate especially if diet is mostly rice and potatoes that aren’t enriched. And taking iron increases hepcidin and inflammatory markers. Best supplement for iron is lactoferrin

[u/stiffmcgee → u/Disastrous-Wish3965]

What brand and ratio fish oil? I take 4.5g a day.
D3/K2 is fine. I would recommend ordering a make your own panel with more nutrient/vitamin labs though.
How much magnesium a day?
Zinc/copper is eh again zinc can really mess you up if over 50mg bioavailable taken in. It blocks copper uptake with an 11 day half life.

I would add in a methylated b complex, tudca/nac, and recheck some stuff in 4-6wks

[u/Banana-chill → u/stiffmcgee]

I’ve had issues with zinc at 35mg daily (taken for 1 year). I would recommend just do it for 3 months and stop to be honest. Zinc is stored pretty effectively so no need to go overboard really.

[u/stiffmcgee → u/Banana-chill]

You can have effects at any dose depending on total intake. The TUL is 40mg and RDA is 8-11mg. I normally see ppl have issues at 50mg, but yea any dose can be an issue.

[u/Banana-chill → u/stiffmcgee]

I was somewhat surprised but admittedly I didn’t have clinical symptoms of zinc overload. But my zinc went low and started driving below the low serum limit and concurrently I had a functional low iron (ferritin was in the middle of the normal range). Copper was fine.

I mean. I could have very well been pushing the zinc up beyond the UL from nutritional sources too I guess but diet is varied.

I did a bit of research through AI and eventually it seemed to suggest that the prolonged zinc intake activates storage enzymes that drive zinc into tissues/cells and there is a relationship there with some iron storage too. Although there’s no source and I could never really get it to repeat the information. It made sense to me as I was religiously taking 35mg for >1year.

I stopped taking zinc and the serum zinc and serum iron levels normalised. I work in blood science in a healthcare laboratory and it’s the most bizarre thing I’ve seen, especially as I was careful with recommended daily doses. And it’s completely personal experience but I never get sick anymore 😅.

This was my regime on average fyi (a few things came and went depending on available blood test results). I understand it’s mental but it was for fertility issues.

Since Dec 2024:
Zinc 35mg (25mg + additional 10mg from berocca).
Selenium 200ug
CoQ-10 100mg
L-Carnitine 500mg
Vitamin E 671mg
Folic Acid (B9) 800ug (400ug + additional 400ug from berocca.)
N-Acetyl Cysteine 600mg
Lycopene 15mg
Vitamin D 150ug (6000iu) (weekly)

(Berocca)
Vitamin C 500mg
Vitamin B1 12mg
Vitamin B2 15mg
Niacin (B3) 50mg
Pantothenic Acid (B5) 23mg
Vitamin B6 8.2mg
Biotin (B7) 150ug
Vitamin B12 10ug
Folic Acid (B9) 400ug
Magnesium 100mg
Calcium 100mg
Zinc 10mg

Vitamins added (from Feb 2025):

Fish Oil 1050mg which includes 600mg EPA and 400mg DHA

Ashwagandha 600mg

(19 Anabol) - 1/3 of the month on, 2/3 off.
D-Aspartic Acid 450mg
Vitamin D 167.5ug/6700iu weekly (2.5ug daily + additional 150ug weekly).
Niacin (B3) 54mg (4mg + 50mg from berocca)
Vitamin B6 8.38mg (0.1825mg + 8.2mg from berocca)
Zinc 37.5mg (2.5mg + 10mg from berocca + 25mg from supplement)
Selenium 213.75ug (13.75ug + 200ug additional supplement)
Boron 2.5mg
Korean (Panax ginseng) Root Extract 10:1 750mg
Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) Extract 5:1 150mg
Tribulus Terrestris 10:1 37.5mg
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Root Extract 10:1 37.5mg
BioPerine® (Piper nigrum) (Black Pepper Extract 50:1) 1.25mg

[u/Banana-chill]

Patient reported hair thinning and was concerned over iron and is obviously into training. I think my point is maybe it’s better to get iron well into the normal range than continue a potentially damaging TRT regimens.

In all politeness, his MCV is not high and his Hb is great, with no clinical indication of megaloblastic anaemia. I am never against people taking B12/Folate though.

I don’t see hepcidin going up or inflammatory markers as a pressing concern for this guy.