Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids

Sierra BoleyKatie Pohl

Grady Brown

04/20/2012

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Anabolic Steroid – Steroid hormones that increase muscle mass and also have masculinizing, or testosterone-like, properties

Not to be confused with corticosteroids – anti-inflammatory

Examples of Anabolic Steroids

Anadrol (oxymetholone) Dianabol (methandrostenolone) Winstrol (stanozolol) Deca-Durabolin (nandrolone) Oxandrin (Oxandrolone) Depot-Testosterone

Uses

Occasionally used to help AIDS patients gain weight and to treat some types of severe anemia Used by athletes to boost performance Used by ordinary people to enhance

appearance Since 1996, use in children has increased 39%

among 8th graders, 67% among 10th graders and 84% among seniors in high school

1 out of 16 high school students have used

Forms

They come in various forms:› Pills › Creams› Patches› Tablet or drops

placed under the tongue

› Injectables http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2009/05/central_fla_man_implicates_nat.html$100,000

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• All structurally similar to testosterone

• Were developed to help build muscle mass and enhance athletic performance

• Designer Steroids – enhance anabolic, minimize androgenic effects

• Also chemically designed to minimize 1st pass metabolism to retain adequate bioavailability

1954 World Weightlifting Championship

Soviet Union using testosterone Dr. John Ziegler – American Physician

› Didn’t like strong androgenic effects› Ciba – Dianabol – orally active compound

with enhanced anabolic properties› Breakfast of Champions› Ziegler regretted helping to create monster

Regulations

Mid 1980s – Steroids were reaching high school level

U.S. Congress (1988 & 1990) – Anabolic Control Act of 1991› Classified 27 anabolic steroids as Schedule

III› Also, banned by many amateur and pro

sports organizations NFL, MLB, NCAA, & International Olympic

Committee

Specific Patterns and Combinations

Endurance athlete and sprinters – low doses

Bodybuilding and strength athletes – high doses› May take up to 100 times more than

therapeutic dose

Cycling

Often used in patterns called cycling Cycles – typically 6-12 weeks in duration

with periods of abstinence between successive cycles

Use cycles (based on anecdotal information):› To minimize development of tolerance› Reduce occurrence of adverse side effects› To maximize performance at an athletic event› To avoid detection of a banned substance

Pyramiding

Cycling sometimes combined with pyramiding

Pyramiding – steroid dose is gradually increased until the midpoint of the cycle, then gradually decreased as the cycle is completed

Thought to reduce possible withdrawal effects resulting from sudden termination

Stacking

Simultaneous use of two or more anabolic steroids

Often done by combining a short-acting oral steroid with a long-acting injectable preparation

They think it enhances effectiveness, but not true

Pharmacology of AS

Mechanism of Action not fully understood

Testosterone and other androgens are agonists at androgen receptor

Receptor is located in the cytoplasm of cell in inactive state

Androgen molecules diffuse across cell membrane, bind and activates receptor

Pharmacology Cont.

Activated hormone-receptor complex translocates into cell nucleus, where it regulates the transcription of specific genes, depending on cell type› Haven’t yet identified specific muscle cell

genes that are turned on by androgens› But overall effect is to increase protein

synthesis and growth of the muscle

Pharmacology Cont.

Testosterone converted enzymatically to two other bioactive hormones

In some tissues – 5α reductase converts T to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which also has potent androgenic effects› Some synthetic AS were designed to avoid this

metabolic reaction because it decreases ratio of anabolic to androgenic activity

Aromatase converts T to estradiol in a chemical reaction called aromatization› Extremely undesirable – leads to feminizing side effects› Some synthetics modified to resist aromatization

Pharmacology Cont.

Recent evidence that AS treatment can induce androgen receptor expression in muscle

Increasing the # of androgen receptors in the tissue would allow steroids to produce greater anabolic effects than they would in the presence of normal receptor expression

At high levels, androgens act as antagonists to glucocorticoid hormones› In muscle, GCCs are catabolic – produce an overall

decrease in protein synthesis and an increase in protein breakdown

› A 2nd M of A for AS could be their anticatabolic effects via glucocorticoid antagonism

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Oral Steroids → Liver Toxicity

Which side effects occur depends on:› Sex› Age› Type of Steroid

Used (Oral or Injectable)

› Dose› Pattern and

Duration of Usemuscleenhancers.com

Table of Side Effects

For Girls: Facial hair Deep voice Increased body hair Irregular periods Increased appetite Enlarged clitoris For Boys: Breasts Shrunken testicles

For Both: Severe acne Baldness Liver abnormalities and

tumors Angry outbursts (“roid

rage”) or aggressive behavior

Paranoia Hallucinations Psychosis Blood clotshttp://jcem.endojournals.org/content/

89/8/0.1.full.pdf

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Do steroids cause increased irritability and aggression?

Do users develop dependence on anabolic steroids?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiU5-AAjb40

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Dependence

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DSM commonly reported signs of dependence› Withdrawal when stopped› Taking more than originally intended› Inability to cut down or control usage despite a

desire to do so› Pre-occupation› Continued Substance use despite problems› Replacement of other activities with substance

abuse

Fatigue Depressed Mood Insomnia Restlessness Anorexia Decrease libido Dissatisfaction with body image Cravings

Dependence Cont.

Absence of large-scale controlled studies hamper the evaluation of AS dependence

No published reports of self-administration by animals of testosterone or any other anabolic steroids

Can produce rewarding effects› Positive Reinforcement – performance

boosting, better body image Cravings are relatively weak

Why care?

Dangerous physical and psychological effects

Can stop growth and have voice changes After stopping, people can experience

depression and moodiness Injectable steroids have an AIDS risk by

sharing needles Steroids without prescriptions may be

faulty or not be steroids at all

Steroids Before and After

bodybuilding.elitefitness.com

getmascular.blogspot.com

References

http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/89/8/0.1.full.pdf

bodybuilding.elitefitness.com getmascular.blogspot.com http://blog.pennlive.com/

patriotnewssports/2009/05/central_fla_man_implicates_nat.html