Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a Scoping Review of Extant Empirical Literature

Hearne, Evelyn; Wazaify, Mayyada; Hout, Marie Claire Van; Atkinson, Amanda; McVeigh, Jim

doi:10.1007/s11469-019-00217-8

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…Anabolic steroids are pharmacological drugs that mimic the effect of the male sex hormone testosterone and its derivatives [274][275][276]. Anabolic steroids accelerate the synthesis of protein within cells, which leads to a pronounced hypertrophy of the muscle tissue, because of which, they have found wide application in sports medicine and bodybuilding [277][278][279].…”

Section: Bioactive Epithio Steroids and Triterpenoidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Silico Prediction of Steroids and Triterpenoids as Potential Regulators of Lipid Metabolism

Dembitsky

2021

Marine Drugs

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This review focuses on a rare group of steroids and triterpenoids that share common properties as regulators of lipid metabolism. This group of compounds is divided by the type of chemical structure, and they represent: aromatic steroids, steroid phosphate esters, highly oxygenated steroids such as steroid endoperoxides and hydroperoxides, α,β-epoxy steroids, and secosteroids. In addition, subgroups of carbon-bridged steroids, neo steroids, miscellaneous steroids, as well as synthetic steroids containing heteroatoms S (epithio steroids), Se (selena steroids), Te (tellura steroids), and At (astatosteroids) were presented. Natural steroids and triterpenoids have been found and identified from various sources such as marine sponges, soft corals, starfish, and other marine invertebrates. In addition, this group of rare lipids is found in fungi, fungal endophytes, and plants. The pharmacological profile of the presented steroids and triterpenoids was determined using the well-known computer program PASS, which is currently available online for all interested scientists and pharmacologists and is currently used by research teams from more than 130 countries of the world. Our attention has been focused on the biological activities of steroids and triterpenoids associated with the regulation of cholesterol metabolism and related processes such as anti-hyperlipoproteinemic activity, as well as the treatment of atherosclerosis, lipoprotein disorders, or inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis. In addition, individual steroids and triterpenoids were identified that demonstrated rare or unique biological activities such as treating neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases with a high degree of certainty over 95 percent. For individual steroids or triterpenoids or a group of compounds, 3D drawings of their predicted biological activities are presented.

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Section: Bioactive Epithio Steroids and Triterpenoidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Silico Prediction of Steroids and Triterpenoids as Potential Regulators of Lipid Metabolism

Dembitsky

2021

Marine Drugs

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“…Prevalence of AAS is difficult to determine, nevertheless global prevalence has been estimated at levels as high as 3.3% (Sagoe, Molde et al 2014), with other scholars suggesting that approximately 3 million men have used AAS in the United States alone (Pope, Kanayama et al 2014). Whilst relatively high levels of AAS use have been identified in the United States, Australia and Northern Europe for several decades, usage at high levels has recently been identified in other regions such as South America and the Middle East (Abrahin, Sousa et al 2014, Zahnow, McVeigh et al 2017, Sagoe and Pallesen 2018, Hearne, Wazaify et al 2020). In addition to the estimated numbers of users, recent studies have identified diverse populations of AAS users in relation to both characteristics and motivations for use, ranging from the unplanned, hedonistic user through to the expert enhanced bodybuilder (Christiansen, Vinther et al 2016, Zahnow, McVeigh et al 2018.…”

Section: Anabolic Androgenic Steroids As a Public Health Concernmentioning

confidence: 99%

A sentinel population: The public health benefits of monitoring enhanced body builders

McVeigh

Salinas

Ralphs

2021

International Journal of Drug Policy

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There is heightened recognition of the public health implications of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) for the use of image and performance enhancement; with increasing evidence of their long-term negative health impacts, the hazards associated with their administration (often via injection), and the variability and unpredictability of their contents. In order to optimise the effects of these drugs, together with strict dietary and training regimes, AAS users typically supplement their use with an expansive and continually evolving range of ancillary drugs. The discovery and subsequent adoption of these drugs by the broader AAS user population is largely dependent upon a minority of social influencers within the bodybuilding community.Pioneering enhanced bodybuilders who self-experiment with a diverse range of image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) and ancillary drugs have been the forerunners in the development of an underground user-led literature, online discussion forums, and were early adopters of internet-facilitated drug markets. Yet the impact of their self-experimentations

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“…This situation is not unique to the United Kingdom (UK) and other high-income countries such as the United States of America (USA), Australia and those within Western Europe. Research has identified widespread use of IPEDs in countries across the globe [ 8 ], including countries in the Middle East [ 9 ] and South America [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generating evidence on the use of Image and performance enhancing drugs in the UK: results from a scoping review and expert consultation by the Anabolic Steroid UK network

et al. 2021

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Background The use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and associated image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) is now a global phenomenon. There is a need to develop evidence to support the development of interventions to prevent the commencement of use, to minimise the potential harms or to support those in their cessation of use. While the United Kingdom (UK) is no exception to this issue, its public health and legislative response to the phenomenon differs to other countries and requires the examination of research specific to the UK. Therefore, a scoping review has been conducted to examine the recent relevant literature to help inform the development and evaluation of effective interventions to reduce the harmful use of IPEDs. Methods A comprehensive search strategy was developed for multiple bibliographic databases, supported by and iterative citation searching process and complimented by expert input from the Anabolic Steroid UK Network. Research conducted by or UK academics or within the UK were eligible, if published in the previous five years. Results In total 87 eligible outputs were identified, including 26 review articles, 25 qualitative papers and 24 quantitative papers. together with small numbers of clinical studies/case reports (6) and commentaries/correspondence (6). The most common topics of research were public health, treatment and harm reduction (41), followed by studies focusing on epidemiology, sub-groups of people using IPEDs and motivations for use (34). The studies illustrated the diverse populations of people who use a range of enhancement drugs including concomitant psychoactive drug use. A number of papers focused on blood borne viruses and associated issues, while others reported on the uptake of needle and syringe programmes. No effectiveness evaluations related to any aspect of treatment, harm reduction or other intervention were published during study period. Conclusion There is a need for the development of effectiveness evaluations of current interventions and any future service provision for people using image and performance enhancing drugs. While there have been no studies of this nature to date, this review illustrates the rich data that has been gathered through diverse methodologies, that will assist in the development of future effectiveness evaluations.

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Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a Scoping Review of Extant Empirical Literature

Cited by 20 publications

References 100 publications

In Silico Prediction of Steroids and Triterpenoids as Potential Regulators of Lipid Metabolism

In Silico Prediction of Steroids and Triterpenoids as Potential Regulators of Lipid Metabolism

A sentinel population: The public health benefits of monitoring enhanced body builders

Generating evidence on the use of Image and performance enhancing drugs in the UK: results from a scoping review and expert consultation by the Anabolic Steroid UK network

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