Many people use steroids to increase performance and facilitate recovery, according to a review by M. K. Mulcahey and associates in the October 2010 edition of the "Physician and Sportsmedicine." These substances, available as supplements or drugs, act on the testosterone system to increase muscle strength and body size. Steroids also cause side effects like the development of breast tissue and body hair. So they should only be taken under the care of a doctor.
Testosterone
The steroid testosterone plays an important role in human health across the entire lifespan. Testosterone, an anabolic hormone, promotes the development and regeneration of muscle tissue. A clinical trial by M. D. O'Connell and co-workers looked at the potential impact of testosterone injections in older men. Their results, published in the Nov. 17, 2010 issue of "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism," showed that six months of testosterone use increased body mass. The prescription drug also had positive effects on sexual performance. All changes, however, disappeared within six months. The subjects did not report any side effects.
Dehydroepiandrosterone
The hormone dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA, is the most prevalent steroid in the human body. It achieves most of its effects by increasing other steroids including androstenediol, androstenedione, testosterone and estrogen. Yet, it may play a direct role in muscle building as well. An experiment by K. Aizawa and colleagues described in the March 2010 edition of "Steroids" assessed hormonal changes associated with physical exercise in laboratory animals. Exercise increased DHEA levels in both male and female rats. These results suggest that taking DHEA supplements, available over-the-counter, may increase muscle size. Yet, scientific data do not support that speculation and additional research remains necessary.
Desoxymethyltestosterone
Some nutritional supplements contain the steroid 2a, 3a-Epithio-17a-Methyl- 5a-Androstan-17b-Ol. This substance metabolizes into desoxymethyltestosterone, DMT. The latter chemical is a potent anabolic steroid banned by many sports agencies. An investigation by P. Diel and his team in Germany tested the muscle-promoting effects of DMT in rats. The results, published in the Feb. 28, 2007 issue of "Toxicology Letters," indicated that the steroid had anabolic ability. That is, it increased muscle size throughout the body. The authors expressed concern because DMT also increased heart weight in their study. That finding illustrates the potential dangers associated with steroid use.
Methasteron
Over-the-counter sports products sometimes contain methasteron. Technically banned, this designer steroid is often available as 2a,17a,-dimethyl-17b-hydroxy-5a-androstan-3-one. According to N. L. Shah and co-workers, athletes use methasteron to enhance body weight and build muscle mass. Their report, presented in the February 2008 edition of "Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology," shows the toxic effects of such products. Five patients taking methasteron developed skin yellowing, a symptom of liver damage. This condition remitted three months after the athletes stopped taking the steroid.
References
- "The Physician and Sportsmedicine;" Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescents: Identification of Those at Risk and Strategies for Prevention; M. K. Mulcahey et al.; October 2010
- "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism;" Do the Effects of Testosterone on Muscle Strength, Physical Function, Body Composition, And Quality of Life Persist Six Months after Treatment in Intermediate-Frail and Frail Elderly Men?; M. D. O'Connell et al.; Nov. 17, 2010
- "Steroids;" Acute Exercise Activates Local Bioactive Androgen Metabolism in Skeletal Muscle; K. Aizawa et al.; March 2010
- "Toxicology Letters;" Characterisation of the Pharmacological Profile of Desoxymethyltestosterone (Madol), A Steroid Misused for Doping; P. Diel et al.; Feb. 28, 2007
- "Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology;" Methasteron-Associated Cholestatic Liver Injury: Clinicopathologic Findings in 5 Cases; N. L. Shah et al.; February 2008
