Current Concepts in Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids

Abstract

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic derivatives of testosterone. According to surveys and media reports, the legal and illegal use of these drugs is gaining popularity. Testosterone restores sex drive and boosts muscle mass, making it central to 2 of society's rising preoccupations: perfecting the male body and sustaining the male libido. The anabolic effects of AAS have been questioned for decades, but recent scientific investigation of supraphysiologic doses supports the efficacy of these regimens. Testosterone has potent anabolic effects on the musculoskeletal system, including an increase in lean body mass, a dose-related hypertrophy of muscle fibers, and an increase in muscle strength. For athletes requiring speed and strength and men desiring a cosmetic muscle makeover, illegal steroids are a powerful lure, despite the risk of subjective side effects. Recent clinical studies have discovered novel therapeutic uses for physiologic doses of AAS, without any significant adverse effects in the short term. In the wake of important scientific advances during the past decade, the positive and negative effects of AAS warrant reevaluation. Guidelines for the clinical evaluation of AAS users will be presented for sports medicine practitioners.

Predicting intentions for long-term anabolic-androgenic steroid use among men: A covariance structure model.

“…Commonly experienced side effects in this study were mainly transitory and potentially treatable through other pharmacological agents, which is consistent with previous descriptions of AAS use (Evans, 1997(Evans, , 2004. This finding has important implications for understanding the mechanisms by which AAS users develop intentions to be long-term users.…”

Automated and sensitive determination of four anabolic androgenic steroids in urine by online turbulent flow solid-phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: A novel approach for clinical monitoring and doping control

“…Both endogenous and exogenous AAS continue to be used clinically today to treat conditions resulting from steroid hormone deficiency, such as delayed puberty, as well as diseases that result in loss of lean muscle mass, such as cancer and AIDS [7]. However, long term usage of anabolic steroids can cause many adverse effects such as gynecomastia, elevated blood pressure, liver damage, cardiovascular disease or coronary artery disease.…”

Uso crônico de decanoato de nandrolona como fator de risco para hipertensão arterial pulmonar em ratos Wistar

“…Um exemplo disso é que os EAA estimulam a síntese de hemoglobina (proteína carreadora de oxigênio), aumentando a oferta de oxigênio nos tecidos, acrescidos do treinamento físico em altitude, consequentemente, melhora do rendimento desportivo (10) . Atletas e não atletas interessados em aumentar o desempenho fí-sico, a força e a massa muscular vêm cada vez mais utilizando os EAA sintéticos sem indicação médica, sendo a dose usada, associada ou não ao exercício, 40 vezes maior do que o nível basal fisiológico e 20 vezes maior que o uso terapêutico convencional (11) . A terapia androgênica pode ser utilizada no tratamento da osteoporose, da anemia causada por falhas na medula óssea ou medicamentosa (12,13) , do câncer de mama avançado (14) , em garotos com estatura exagerada (13) , e até mesmo em situações especiais da obesidade (12) .…”