title: Selling androgenic anabolic steroids by the pound: identification and analysis of popular websites on the Internet.
abstract: Internet websites offering androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) were identified and available products were examined. Keywords for the website search were: "anabolic steroids," "anabolic steroids buy," "anabolic steroid purchase." The first 10 websites offering AAS in the first 10 pages of results were considered. At least two AAS-containing products per website were selected. Thirty AAS-selling websites were identified, mainly located in the United States (46.7%) and Europe (30%). Most websites sold other anabolic/ergogenic products (clenbuterol, 76.7%; GH/IGF, 60.0%; thyroid hormones, 46.7%; erythropoietin, 30.0%; insulin, 20.0%) or products for AAS-related adverse effects (mainly: estrogen antagonists, 63.3%; products for erectile dysfunction, 56.7%; 5α-reductase inhibitors, 33.3%; anti-acne products, 33.3%). AAS were sold as medicines (69.6%) or as dietary supplements (30.4%). AAS in medicines were mainly: nandronole (20.4%), methandrostenolone (18.4%), and testosterone (12.2%). Dietary supplements contained mainly DHEA and included several fake compounds. Manufacturers were declared for 97.9% of medicines and 66.7% of dietary supplements; however, several manufacturers were not found on the Internet. Described benefits were usually few adverse effects and no estrogenicity. Toxicity was seldom reported and presented as mild. Recommended doses were two-fourfold higher than current medical recommendations. In conclusion, misleading information and deceiving practices were common findings on AAS-selling websites, indicating their deleterious potential for public health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Section of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Cordaro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosentino
mesh_terms: D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D003132:Commerce; D004181:Directories as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D057386:Search Engine
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D000728:Androgens