Anabolic steroids and the athlete : a case study / Edward Oklobdzija, David Weyrauch. - (Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association 33 (1989) 1 (March); p. 27-33)
- PMCID: PMC2484526
Abstract
This paper examines the pharmacokinetic activities of anabolic steroids and their potential deleterious effects. A review of literature reveals the most significant pathological sequelae resulting from anabolic use to be peliosis hepatis and liver cell carcinoma. These ill effects have been more closely associated with those steroids whose chemical structures are specifically alkylated at the 17th carbon in the Alpha position as opposed to their Beta esterified counterparts. Testing of these drugs was attempted by way of a single case study. A 23 yr old male bodybuilder was subject to both oral and parenteral forms of steroid over a six week period of his training program. Serum, urinalysis and subjective parameters were monitored before during and after steroid administration. The results show elevated levels of urea, creatinine, bilirubin, CPK, AST, ALT and LDH. In this case study, the elevated parameters appear to be more a function of muscle breakdown induced by a combination of severe exercise and intramuscular injection than a measure of organ (liver) pathology.
