Responses to sustained use of anabolic steroid.

Abstract

Description is given of six body-builders who had been taking Methandrostenolone (up to 20 mg/day in intermittent courses for a year or more). At the time of examination there was no subjective disturbance of sexual function, but testosterone levels were low relative to laboratory standards and luteinizing hormone levels were also reducedparticularly in relation to testosterone concentrations. Abnormal liver function tests were seen in three of the six subjects, and one had mild diabetes with high serum cholesterol, triglycerides and uric acid. The weight gain of the group was not outstanding, and the only possible positive finding was a high haemoglob.in and haematocrit in one of the six subjects.

Estimated Prevalence of Anabolic Steroid Use Among Male High School Seniors

“…This study has established the pres¬ ence of anabolic AS use among high school males. Based on our findings, 6.64% of 12th-grade male students use or have used AS, and it is also probable that there was a certain amount of un¬ derreporting. More importantly, if the AS use rate from our self-selected sam¬ ple is applied to the national population of males enrolled in secondary schools, it suggests that between 250 000 and 500 000 adolescents in the country have used or are currently using these drugs.…”

Effects of chronic testosterone administration on myocardial ischemia, lipid metabolism and insulin resistance in elderly male diabetic patients with coronary artery disease

“…The metabolic effects seen in the present study are different from those obtained in normal subjects with anabolic steroids. Indeed, the abuse of anabolic steroids by athletes does not seem to lead to the same positive effects on serum lipids, in fact during administration of large doses of testosterone and anabolic steroids during a 12-week strength training period, HDL decreased and triglyceride increased [14] and significant differences in cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels were found in subjects after 18 months of therapy with anabolic hormones [15]. Besides these relevant secondary effects on lipids, therapy with anabolic steroids suppresses the hypothalamus-pituitary glandgonad axis [16], and the reduction of testosterone levels itself might be the cause of negative effects on lipids.…”

Adverse Effects of Anabolic Steroids

“…Abnormal liver function has been detailed both in clinical situations and with the training individuals, although not all studies demonstrated abnormalities (Freed et al 1975;Hagerman et al 1975;Johnson & O'Shea 1969;Kilshaw et al 1975;Kory et al 1959;Liddle & Burke 1960;O'Shea 1970;O'Shea & Winkler 1970;Shephard et al 1977;Tahmindjis 1976). Liver function testing has been determined for the most part by the retention of bromsulphalein, which competes with bile salts for excretion and elevated blood levels of serum enzymes: alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (SGPT and SGOT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH and its liverspecific isozyme), and phosphatases.…”