How the love of muscle can break a heart: Impact of anabolic androgenic steroids on skeletal muscle hypertrophy, metabolic and cardiovascular health

How the love of muscle can break a heart: Impact of anabolic androgenic steroids on skeletal muscle hypertrophy, metabolic and cardiovascular health / Deaglan McCullough, Richard Webb, Kevin J. Enright, Katie E. Lane, Jim McVeigh, Claire E. Stewart, Ian G. Davies. - (Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (2020) 2 December; p. 1-17)

  • PMID: 33269425
  • DOI: 10.1007/s11154-020-09616-y


Abstract

It is estimated 6.4% of males and 1.6% of females globally use anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), mostly for appearance and performance enhancing reasons. In combination with resistance exercise, AAS use increases muscle protein synthesis resulting in skeletal muscle hypertrophy and increased performance. Primarily through binding to the androgen receptor, AAS exert their hypertrophic effects via genomic, non-genomic and anti-catabolic mechanisms. However, chronic AAS use also has a detrimental effect on metabolism ultimately increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Much research has focused on AAS effects on blood lipids and lipoproteins, with abnormal concentrations of these associated with insulin resistance, hypertension and increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT). This clustering of interconnected abnormalities is often referred as metabolic syndrome (MetS). Therefore, the aim of this review is to explore the impact of AAS use on mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and markers of MetS. AAS use markedly decreases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and increases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Chronic AAS use also appears to cause higher fasting insulin levels and impaired glucose tolerance and possibly higher levels of VAT; however, research is currently lacking on the effects of AAS use on glucose metabolism. While cessation of AAS use can restore normal lipid levels, it may lead to withdrawal symptoms such as depression and hypogonadism that can increase CVD risk. Research is currently lacking on effective treatments for withdrawal symptoms and further long-term research is warranted on the effects of AAS use on metabolic health in males and females.

Original document

Parameters

Science
Review
Date
2 December 2020
People
Davies, Ian G.
Enright, Kevin J.
Lane, Katie E.
McCullough, Deaglan
McVeigh, Jim
Stewart, Clair E.
Webb, Richard
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Other organisations
Liverpool Hope University
Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)
Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)
Doping classes
S1. Anabolic Agents
Medical terms
Cardiovascular diseases
Health effects
Document category
Scientific article
Document type
Pdf file
Date generated
28 January 2021
Date of last modification
3 March 2021
Category
  • Legal Source
  • Education
  • Science
  • Statistics
  • History
Country & language
  • Country
  • Language
Other filters
  • ADRV
  • Legal Terms
  • Sport/IFs
  • Other organisations
  • Laboratories
  • Analytical aspects
  • Doping classes
  • Substances
  • Medical terms
  • Various
  • Version
  • Document category
  • Document type
Publication period
Origin