PURPOSE: To assess the magnitude and timing of regional body composition changes resulting from therapy with nandrolone alone and in combination with resistance training. METHODS: Thirty HIV-positive men were randomized to receive weekly injections of nandrolone decanoate (600 mg) alone or along with progressive resistance training thrice weekly for 12 weeks. Regional (truncal and appendicular) lean and fat mass were determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: At 12 weeks, gains in truncal lean mass were significant within groups (p < 0.001) but did not differ between (p = 0.31) the nandrolone alone (2.0 +/- 1.3 kg) and combination therapy (2.4 +/- 1.0 kg) groups. Appendicular lean mass increases were significant within groups (p < 0.001) and differed between (p < 0.001) the nandrolone alone (1.9 +/- 1.1 kg) and combination therapy (2.8 +/- 1.0 kg) groups. Gains in whole-body lean mass were greater with combination therapy that with nandrolone alone during the first 6 weeks (3.6 +/- 2.0 versus 2.3 +/- 1.8 kg p < 0.001), with the 6-wk increase accompanying combination therapy similar in magnitude to gains with nandrolone alone over the entire 12-wk regimen (3.9 +/- 2.3 kg). Changes in fat occurred only during the second 6 weeks, with truncal and appendicular fat decreasing by -0.5 +/- 0.06 kg (p = 0.007) and -0.4 +/- 0.05 kg (p = 0.037), respectively, with the combination therapy during this period (-0.4 +/- 0.03 kg, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Comparable improvements in lean mass may be achieved with shorter courses using a combination of an anabolic drug and resistance training, thereby minimizing losses in peripheral fat and potentially other adverse effects that may occur with longer courses involving an anabolic steroid.

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