Abnormal neurovascular control in anabolic androgenic steroids users.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies showed that anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) increase vascular resistance and blood pressure (BP) in humans. In this study, we tested the hypotheses 1) that AAS users would have increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and reduced forearm blood flow (FBF) compared with AAS nonusers and 2) that there would be an association between MSNA and 24-h BP.


METHODS
Twelve AAS users aged 31 +/- 2 yr (means +/- SE) and nine age-matched AAS nonusers aged 29 +/- 2 yr participated in the study. All individuals were involved in strength training for at least 2 yr. AAS was determined by urine test (chromatography-mass spectrometry). MSNA was directly measured by microneurography technique. FBF was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. BP monitoring consisted of measures of BP for 24 h.


RESULTS
MSNA was significantly higher in AAS users than that in AAS nonusers (29 +/- 3 vs 20 +/- 1 bursts per minute, P = 0.01). FBF (1.92 +/- 0.17 vs 2.77 +/- 0.24 mL x min(-1) x 100 mL(-1), P = 0.01) and forearm vascular conductance (2.01 +/- 0.17 vs 2.86 +/- 0.31 U, P = 0.02) were significantly lower in AAS users than that in AAS nonusers. Systolic (131 +/- 4 vs 120 +/- 3 mm Hg, P = 0.001), diastolic (74 +/- 4 vs 68 +/- 3 mm Hg, P = 0.02), and mean BP (93 +/- 4 vs 86 +/- 3 mm Hg, P = 0.005) and heart rate (74 +/- 3 vs 68 +/- 3 bpm, P = 0.02) were significantly higher in AAS users when compared with AAS nonusers. Further analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between MSNA and 24-h mean BP (r = 0.75, P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
AAS increases MSNA and reduces muscle blood flow in young individuals. In addition, the increase in BP levels in AAS users is associated with augmented sympathetic outflow. These findings suggest that AAS increases the susceptibility for cardiovascular disease in humans.
Alves
Maria Janieire Nazaré Nunes
MJ
Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
Dos Santos
Marcelo Rodrigues
MR
Dias
Rodrigo Gonçalves
RG
Akiho
César Abreu
CA
Laterza
Mateus Camaroti
MC
Rondon
Maria Urbana Pinto Brandāo
MU
Moreau
Regina Lucia De Moraes
RL
Negrāo
Carlos Eduardo
CE
D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*
D045930:Anabolic Agents