Adverse Cardiovascular Effects from the Use of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids as Ergogenic Resources

Abstract

This review evaluates the documented cardiovascular functioning among anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users. AAS users manifest a reduction in HDL cholesterol, increased inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress. Strong evidence associating AAS use with blood pressure at hypertensive levels, as well as hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction has also been reported. Both epidemiological and autopsy studies attest the relationship between AAS use and early mortality. The review's limitations are noted.

Keywords :

• anabolic agents
• doping in sports
• cardiovascular diseases
• hypertension
• cardiac hypertrophy

THE AUTHORS

Marcos Antonio Pereira dos Santos, Ph.D., has received his B.A. degree in physical education from the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), with improvement in theory and methodology of sports training from the University of Moscow, Russia and expertise in physical activity and health from UFPI. He received his Ph.D. degree in biotechnology by Northeast Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO). He is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biophysics and Physiology of UFPI and a member of doping control of the Futbol Brazilian Confederation (CBF). He has experience in the area of exercise physiology and biophysics, acting on the following topics: sports training, doping in sport, anabolic steroids, sensors & biosensors.

Caio Victor Coutinho de Oliveira has received a master's degree in nutrition from Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), with expertise in Nutritional Bases of Physical Activity: Sports Nutrition from Gama Filho University (UGF) and Master in Nutrition Sciences (UFPB). Currently, he is Professor at Maurício of Nassau Faculty (FMN) and Institute for Educational Development Courses (IDE-Recife) as well as researcher member of the Laboratory for the Study of Applied Physical Training to Performance and Health - LETFADS/UFPB. He has experience in clinical and sports nutrition, acting on the following topics: diets, athletes, dietary supplements, professional soccer, molecular biology, and markers of oxidative stress, and muscle damage.

Alexandre Sérgio Silva, Ph.D., has received his B.A. degree in physical education from the State University of Paraíba and Ph.D. degree in Human Motricity Sciences from State University of São Paulo (UNESP- Rio Claro). He is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB); a leader of Physical Training applied to Health and Performance Laboratory (UFPB). His research interests include biochemical and metabolic responses to exercise with emphasis on evaluation of the effectiveness of nutritional ergogenic resources.

GLOSSARY

• Anabolic-androgenic steroids: drugs with similar effects to testosterone in the body. They increase protein within cells, especially in skeletal muscles.

• Cardiac hypertrophy: Increased heart size accompanied by reduction in force of contraction. As a result, there is a reduction in cardiac output (heart failure), a major cause of cardiovascular death.

• Cardiac infarction: Lack of oxygen typically caused by coronary artery obstruction, resulting in injury or death of cardiac muscle, which could be fatal depending on the size of the affected area or complications from cardiac dysfunction generated.

• Dyslipidemia: abnormal amount of lipids (e.g., cholesterol and/or fat) in the blood. Increased concentration of LDL and VLDL cholesterol or decreased HDL cholesterol promotes destruction of the endothelium, thrombus formation, increased blood rigidity with consequent hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes.

• Oxidative stress: imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant systemic defense, resulting in cellular damage including DNA. Is involved in atherosclerosis, heart failure, and myocardial infarction.