Acute cardiovascular response in anabolic androgenic steroid users performing maximal treadmill exercise testing.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the cardiovascular effects of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use, specifically the hemodynamic response, during maximal treadmill exercise testing by comparing the exercise response between users of AAS (U-AAS) and non-AAS users (N-AAS). Twenty-four men (n=12; 29+/-3.4 years and n=12; 29.5+/-8.2 years for the U-AAS and N-AAS groups, respectively) with regular participation in both resistance (mean=6 d.wk) and aerobic exercise (mean=2 d.wk) volunteered for the study. Both groups of subjects completed a ramp-protocol maximal treadmill exercise test to volitional fatigue. Several hemodynamic and metabolic measures were obtained before, during, and after testing. The results demonstrate for the first time that chronic administration of high doses of AAS (355.4+/-59.47 mg.wk) lead to hemodynamic and metabolic response impairment. In conclusion, the chronotropic significant incompetence in the current study was reflected by an exaggerated hemodynamic response to exercise. Furthermore, the findings suggest that nonusers of AAS showed increases in VO2max when compared to the AAS group. Therefore, this study provides a contraindication to AAS use, especially in those at increased risk of cardiovascular events.
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho (IBCCF/UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Alex S
AS
Maior
Roberto
R
Simão
Belmiro Freitas
BF
de Salles
Jeffrey L
JL
Alexander
Matthew
M
Rhea
José H M
JH
Nascimento
D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D000075202:Contraindications; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D055070:Resistance Training; D013739:Testosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone