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What are Anabolic Androgenic Steroids?
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Anabolic androgenic steroids are natural or man-made compounds that act in a similar way to the male sex hormone testosterone that is produced by the testes. They are also found in women in small quantities and are produced by the ovaries and the adrenal gland.
Artificial anabolic steroids have been used medically for the treatment of some forms of anaemia (to stimulate blood cell production), osteoporosis and to promote recovery after a serious illness or major surgery. They have also been used in the treatment of breast cancer and for boys/men who are deficient in the naturally occurring male sex hormones.
However, these drugs having a therapeutic value for many diseases are wrongly used by healthy people especially for bodybuilding without knowing their adverse effects on various important body systems. There are many different anabolic steroids available throughout the world, Some examples include Nandrolone, Stanozolol, Testosterone, Boldenone, Androstenedione, Androstenediol, 19-nor androstenedione, 19-nor androstenediol and DHEA.
In the USA, the reported rate of anabolic steroid use is 6 to 11% among high-school-aged males, including an unexpected number of non-athletes, and about 2.5% among high-school-aged females. In a national survey, the most common reason given for anabolic steroid use was improvement of athletic performance; and second was improvement of appearance.
| How Do Anabolic Androgenic Steroids work? |
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Testosterone, the male sex hormone is responsible for stimulating
the development of male sexual characteristics known as the androgenic
effect and the build up of muscle tissue known as anabolic effect.
Anabolic androgenic steroids are natural or man-made compounds that
act in a similar way to testosterone. Most manufacturers of anabolic
steroids attempt to minimize the androgenic and maximize the anabolic
effects of the drug. All available anabolic steroids have both actions
to a varying degree according to the body's own response. Anabolic
androgenic steroids are often referred to 'anabolic steroids'
- both names refer to the same substances.
| Why athletes use anabolic androgenic steroids to improve performance? |
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Use of anabolic androgenic steroids is
very common amongst athletes, to improve sports performance
by:
- increasing muscle size, strength
and power
- harder and longer training
- increasing
aggression and competitiveness
The androgenic effects of anabolic steroids (increased aggression and competitiveness)
help the athletes / body builders to train harder and to recover more
quickly, resulting in increased strength. However, there
is little medical evidence to
support this belief that use of anabolic steroids alone can increase
muscle strength in adult males. The truth being that muscle
development is dependent on an appropriate
diet and exercise program.
| What Harm Can Anabolic Steroids Cause? |
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Anabolic steroids mimic hormones that are naturally occurring in the body, and therefore can interfere with the normal hormone balance in the body as well as their actions. This interference can cause adverse side effects ranging from development of male features in females, loss of fertility and eventual impotence in males to acne and kidney damage. They can also increase blood pressure, cause hardening of the arteries and increase the risk of heart disease. Anabolic steroids also increase the risk of liver disease and certain forms of cancer.
| Adverse effects on liver due to long term Anabolic Steroid Use |
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Abnormal liver function
tests are the commonest reported side effects of anabolic steroids
use. However
the main concern, or danger, is the appearance of liver tumors
or peliosis hepatis – an abnormal life threatening condition
characterized by the occurrence of small blood-filled cysts
throughout the liver.
Both the tumors and the cysts sometimes rupture, causing internal
bleeding. These conditions are reversible if the anabolic steroids
are stopped immediately, however, they remain undiagnosed till
they cause a serious liver function failure.
Anabolic steroid-using bodybuilders often show abnormal liver function
tests with elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST / SGOT) and alanine
aminotransferase (ALT / SGPT), which indicate liver disease.
However, a normal liver function test in a person taking anabolic
steroids DOES NOT mean that his / her liver is not affected, for
steroids are known to silently damage liver and a great harm is done
before any symptoms of the disease are manifested.
| Management of patients with liver problems due to anabolic steroids |
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The first treatment option is to make
appropriate changes in diet and take some dietary supplement for
protecting liver from excessive damage.
Because hepatitis associated with anabolic steroids use is not due
to infection, treatment options are limited. Herbal supplements have
shown promise in the treatment of liver disease, i.e., herbs such
as Milk Thistle and Picrorhiza which are proven for their hepatoprotective
effect, are successfully used for anabolic steroid induced liver
problems.
Silybum marianum (milk thistle) has been shown to have clinical applications
in the treatment of toxic hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, ischemic
injury, radiation toxicity, and viral hepatitis via its antioxidative,
anti-lipid peroxidative, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulating,
and liver regenerating effects.
Picrorhiza kurroa appears to have similar applications and mechanisms
of action. When compared with Silybum, the hepatoprotective effect
of Picrorhiza was found to be similar, or in many cases superior,
to the effect of Silybum.
Thus, herbal medicines can be of assistance in reducing the symptoms
of liver problems associated with anabolic steroids abuse.
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