Sudden cardiac death during anabolic steroid abuse: morphologic and toxicologic findings in two fatal cases of bodybuilders

Fineschi, Vittorio; Riezzo, Irene; Centini, F.; Silingardi, Enrico; Licata, Manuela; Beduschi, Giovanni; Karch, Steven B.

doi:10.1007/s00414-005-0055-9

Cited by 149 publications

(111 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Despite the elevated amount of AAS used, the Participant did not present any acute complications associated with AAS misuse; however, we have no data about past chronic effects, or what happened after the study. There is a large body of evidence suggesting that the indiscriminate use of AAS is not safe [9,37,38], and the literature provides many cases of serious cardiovascular events associated with anabolic steroid abuse by bodybuilders [39,40]. Additionally, many studies confirm that the abuse of anabolic substances produces profound and partly irreversible changes in various organs and systems, and that these changes tend to be related to the type, duration and dosage of anabolic steroids used [40,41].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to the actual body of evidence, bodybuilders seem to risk their health in order to increase fat-free mass, and then again to lose fat; but end up, in fact, losing most of the fat-free mass previously gained [6,39,40]. Perhaps it would be more reasonable to gain smaller amounts of muscle mass while minimizing fat gain, and then adopting strategies for losing body fat while preserving lean mass, which would virtually eliminate the traditional preparatory and pre-competitive (also known as "bulking" and "cutting", respectively) phases and promote less aggressive variations in body composition together with less drug abuse.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High Resistance Training Volume and Low Caloric and Protein Intake Are Associated with Detrimental Alterations in Body Composition of an Amateur Bodybuilder Using Anabolic Steroids: A Case Report

Viana

Gentil

Brasileiro

et al. 2017

JFMK

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Many bodybuilders use anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) to potentiate muscle mass gain as a result of specific resistance training and nutrition. The case we describe hereafter outlines alterations in body composition of an amateur bodybuilder during his pre-competitive period (11 weeks). The Participant was a 28-year old Caucasian male who was aiming to participate in his first bodybuilding competition under the "Men's Physique" category. The Participant self-administered AAS for the whole pre-competitive period, followed a 13 set-meal plan consisting of 10 daily meals interspersed by approximately 2 h, and performed six high-volume resistance-training sessions a week. Body mass and anthropometric variables were measured at the beginning, during and at the end of his pre-competitive period. Dietetic analysis revealed a reduction in protein intake at the 10th (% decrease: −51.3%) and 11th weeks (% decrease: −64.5%) and in calorie intake at the 10th (% decrease: −57.9%) and 11th weeks (% decrease: −59.5%) in comparison to the 1st week. As a result, the Participant reduced both total body mass and fat percentage. However, there was a reduction in absolute fat free mass, despite the use of AAS. Apparently, the combination of excessive volumes of training with inadequate protein consumption was responsible for this outcome.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Resistance Training Volume and Low Caloric and Protein Intake Are Associated with Detrimental Alterations in Body Composition of an Amateur Bodybuilder Using Anabolic Steroids: A Case Report

Viana

Gentil

Brasileiro

et al. 2017

JFMK

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…(8) Although testosterone has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, some studies linked the exogenous supraphysiologic doses of AAS with the development of cardiovascular abnormalities as hypertension, increased interventricular septum thickness, dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, heart failure and sudden cardiac death. (9,10) Muscle glycogen is an essential fuel for exercise training. Exercise produces a significant reduction in muscle glycogen.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Exercise Training and Anabolic Androgenic Steroids on Hemodynamics , Glycogen Content , Angiogenesis and Apoptosis of Cardiac Muscle in Adult Male Rats

Hassan¹,

Kamal²

2013

IJHS

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Abstract:Objectives: To investigate the effects of exercise training and anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) on hemodynamics, glycogen content, angiogenesis, apoptosis and histology of cardiac muscle.Methods: Forty rats were divided into 4 groups; control, steroid, exercise-trained and exercise-trained plus steroid groups. The exercise-trained and trained plus steroid groups, after one week of water adaptation, were exercised by jumping into water for 5 weeks. The steroid and trained plus steroid groups received nandrolone decanoate, for 5 weeks. Systolic blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were monitored weekly. Heart weight / body weight ratio (HW/BW ratio) were determined. Serum testosterone, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cardiac caspase-3 activity and glycogen content were measured.Results: Compared with control, the steroid group had significantly higher blood pressure, HR, sympathetic nerve activity, testosterone level, HW/BW and cardiac caspase-3 activity. Histological examination revealed apoptotic changes and hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes. In exercise-trained group, cardiac glycogen, VEGF and testosterone levels were significantly higher while HR was significantly lower than control. HW/BW was more than control confirmed by hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes with angiogenesis on histological examination. Trained plus steroid group, had no change in HR, with higher blood pressure and HW/BW than control, cardiac glycogen and serum VEGF were higher than control but lower than exercisetrained group. Histological examination showed hypertrophy of cardiomyoctes with mild angiogenesis rather than apoptosis. Conclusion:When exercise is augmented with AAS, exercise-associated cardiac benefits may not be fully gained with potential cardiac risk from AAS if used alone or combined with exercise.

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“…In addition, it is believed that one of the factors responsible for the continuation of this problem is the wrong belief among athletes abusers that the adverse effects of these drugs are reversible effects and it can be easily treated later on after the sport competitions. This is absolutely not correct as there are many studies which confirmed the occurrence of irreversible adverse effects among the abusers such as cardiac disorders and chronic hepatitis [10,17,20] . Moreover, to realize how serious this health problem is, we have to know that governments in some countries spent millions to stand against this phenomenon, for example, in USA a great institute has been established to face this problem called (the association against steroids abuse) which provide free online medical information to the public regarding the health hazards of abusing these drugs [7,13] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

he Physiological Effects on Hormones levels and Kidneys Functions Induced by The Anabolic Androgenic Drug (Sustanon) in Male Guinea Pigs

Bisher¹

2009

American J. of Applied Sciences

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Problem statement:In recent years, the intentional abuse of anabolic androgenic drugs by athletes has increased rapidly in many countries to become a serious negative phenomenon. Athletes, specially in power sports, abuse these drugs such as Sustanon in high doses to obtain a rapid and huge increasing in the muscles mass and to improve their performance during the sport competitions. This abuse causes severe adverse effects among the abusers. Approach: The present physiological study was performed to answer the following question: could Sustanon abuse induce marked abnormal alterations in some hormones levels and in the kidneys functions?. The current study was needed due to the lack of sufficient information about the hormonal and nephritic adverse effects caused by Sustanon abuse in particular. This study on male Guinea pigs aimed to investigate the potential abnormal alterations in the levels of some hormones and in the kidney functions induced by repeated administration of two Sustanon doses. The treated animals were injected intramuscularly (i.m.) once a week with Sustanon doses as follow (15 mg to control group according to (t-test). The results have been described and discussed in full details within the text. Conclusion/Recommendations: The current hormonal results proved the occurrence of severe abnormal alterations in the serum levels of the thyroid gland hormones, Cortisol and Insulin under the influence of Sustanon treatment. This indicated that abusing Sustanon for long periods by athletes can cause serious pathological hormonal disorders in the abusers. In addition, the present nephritic results can be considered as strong proof that abusing Sustanon for long periods by athletes can induce severe defects and disorders in the kidney functions. This may lead to cause serious pathological damages in the kidneys structure in the late stages. Due to these serious adverse effects, it is recommended that much more official and medical restrictions should be applied to prevent abusers from obtaining these drugs in order to decrease the continuation of this negative health problem. In addition, the study recommends also that athletes and youths should be provided with much more medical information and enlightenment about the health risks and the complications of abusing these drugs through media.

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Sudden cardiac death during anabolic steroid abuse: morphologic and toxicologic findings in two fatal cases of bodybuilders

Cited by 149 publications

References 21 publications

High Resistance Training Volume and Low Caloric and Protein Intake Are Associated with Detrimental Alterations in Body Composition of an Amateur Bodybuilder Using Anabolic Steroids: A Case Report

High Resistance Training Volume and Low Caloric and Protein Intake Are Associated with Detrimental Alterations in Body Composition of an Amateur Bodybuilder Using Anabolic Steroids: A Case Report

Effect of Exercise Training and Anabolic Androgenic Steroids on Hemodynamics , Glycogen Content , Angiogenesis and Apoptosis of Cardiac Muscle in Adult Male Rats

he Physiological Effects on Hormones levels and Kidneys Functions Induced by The Anabolic Androgenic Drug (Sustanon) in Male Guinea Pigs

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