[43 cycles of anabolic steroid treatment studied in athletes: the uses and secondary effects].
OBJECTIVE
To know the actual abuse of anabolic steroids by amateur athletes in our environment as well as actions and secondary effects resulting from such abuse.


METHODS
Analytical observational study from May 1997 to November 1998. Forty-three therapy courses with anabolic steroids among 39 male athletes were studied. Diet and training were standardized for all participants. A verification was made that the test group started from a basal state.


RESULTS
Duration of therapy was 6 weeks and the mean total dose was 2,928 mg. Significant differences were found in the test group regarding basal and post-therapy values for: transaminases (AST: 29.8 vs 45.0 IU/l, p < 0.001. ALT: 32.9 vs 51.4 IU/l, p < 0.01), cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol (31.4 vs 19.7 mg/dl, p < 0.01), LDL-cholesterol (145.9 vs 173.5 mg/dl, p < 0.01), LH (2.1 vs 0.2 U/l, p < 0.001), FSH (3.3 vs 0.4 U/l, p < 0.001), free testosterone (14.4 vs 34.0 pg/ml, p < 0.001), 17-beta-estradiol and arm muscular section (98.8 vs 103.7 cm2, p < 0.001). The inclusion of testosterone in therapy introduced a significant difference with respect to the use of synthetic anabolic agents alone, in total testosterone (4.5 vs 0.9 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and 17-beta-oestradiol, but neither with respect to free testosterone nor arm muscular section. An 84.6% of individuals in the problem group stated to complete two therapy courses in a year.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of anabolic steroids increases the lean muscular mass. The most relevant secondary effects included: increased transaminase serum levels, change in the lipid profile and suppression of the hypothalamus-pituitary gland-gonad axis. The inclusion of testosterone did not increase the lean muscular mass.
Iñigo
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MA
Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital del Servicio Andaluz de Salud de La Línea, Cádiz.
Arrimadas
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Arroyo
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D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000886:Anthropometry; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D013030:Spain; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D013287:Illicit Drugs