ANABOLIC STEROIDS

MembersJames Robin Cudiamat

Francis Harmon Libo-onRodel Pedragosa

Neil Villaronte

BRIEF INTRODUCTIONhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzPfGvIGI14

Anabolic Steroids

Class of steroid hormones related to the male hormone – testosterone

Increase protein synthesis within cells whiche results in growth of muscle

Also have androgenic properties which include the development and maintenance of males characteristics

Have both medical and sport performance uses

Anabolic Steroids

AS have been modified many times to maximize the anabolic effects and minimize the androgenic effects

Anabolic Steroids

All AS possess both anabolic and androgenic properties

Anabolic effect dose dependent (300mg per week required)

History

1931 – male hormone androstenone isolated 1934 – androstenone synthesized 1935 – testosterone identified and synthesized 1937 – clinical trials on humans with

testosterone began

History

WWII – German scientist synthesized other anabolic steroids and experimented on concentration camp inmates to treat chronic wasting

Also given to German soldiers hoping to increase their aggression

Adolf Hitler rumored to take anabolic steroids

History

1972 – study no difference in performance enhancement in participants compared to ones given placebo

Remained unchallenged for 18 years Poor study with inconsistent controls and

insignificant doses 2001 – study showed clear increas in muscle

mass and decrease in fat with high doses of anabolic steroids

ANABOLIC STEROID EFFECTS

Anabolic Effects

Two different but overlapping effects Promote cell growth Increase in protein synthesis, appetite, bone

remodeling and growth and production of red blood cells

Increase the size of muscle fibers leading to increase in muscle mass and strength

Decrease the amount of fat in muscle

Androgenic effects

Androgenic (virilizing) – development and maintenance of male characteristics:

Increased growth of pubic, beard, chest and limb hair Enlargement of vocal chords Increased libido Suppression of natural sex hormones

Adverse effects

Elevated blood pressure

Increase in LDL cholesterol and decrease HDL

Increase risk CV disease and coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and heart attacks

Adverse effects

Accelerate the rate of premature baldness for male and female

Appearance of acne- stimulates the sebaceous glands

Liver damage (cancer) – increase demand on liver as oral steroids are changed

Adverse Effects

Tendon rupture has been linked to AS

Stiffer and less elastic tendon

Probably tendon does not adapt as fast

Gender Specific effects

Gynecoastia – development of brest tissues in males

Temporary infertility (decreased production of sperm)

Testicular atrophy (caused by decrease levels in natural testosterone)

Adverse Effects

Most side effects are dose dependentBlood pressure elevationIncrease the risks of Cardio Vascular

disease, coronary artery disease, arrythmia and any disease related to the heart.

Accelerates the rate of baldness (male and female)

Adverse Effects

Acne-stimulates the sebaceous glandsLiver Complications-increased demand on liver

functionsTendon rupture(stiff and less elastic tendons)

Female Specific Effects

Increase in body hairMale-pattern baldnessDeepened VoiceEnlarged ClitorisUnpredictable menstrual cycleAffects fetal development during pregnancy

Teenage/Adolescent users effect

Halted growthAccelerated puberty which could cause

premature skeletal maturation before growth spurt

Premature sexual development

Behavioral Effects

Uncontrolabe mood swingsRoid Rage(Aggression)Depression(withdrawal from use)IrritabilityParanoia* Behavioral effects are similar to those of drug

addiction

Biochemical Mechanisms

Anabolic Steroids affect muscle mass by:1. Increasing the production of proteins2. Reduce recovery time by blocking the effects of cortisol. (reduces fatigue/faster recovery)

Biochemical Mechanisms

Steroid Hormones interact with cells by binding to receptor proteins.

After binding, proteins move into cell nucleus and alterthe expression ofgenes or activate other processes in the cell(protein synthesis)

Medical Uses

Bone Marrow Stimulation- AnemiaSupplement for patients with hormone

deficiency(Hormone Replacement Therapy)Puberty for delayed AdolescentsUsed for recovery of muscle tissue

Non-medical use and abuse

Extemely difficult to determine what percentage of use in the population

Usually middle class, heterosexual men with a median age of 25

2006 study – 78% noncompetitive bodybuilders and non-athletes (cosmetic)

13 % reported unsafe injection practices (needle sharing)

Non-medical use and abuse

• Users often stereo-typed as uneducated or “muscle heads”

• 1998 study showed steroid users to be the most educated drug users out of all users of controlled substances

• Research their product more than any other group

Administration

• 3 forms of Anabolic Steroids Administration:

• Oral – most convenient(dangerous – liver)

• Injectable – intramuscular not intravenous (HIV and Hepatitis)

• Transdermal – self adhesive skin patches

Methods of Administration

• Athletes who take AS do so typically during the active years of the careers

• They combine multiple steroid forms (oral and injectable), a practice called “stacking”

• The drug dosage is progessively increased (“pyramiding”) during a 4 to 18 week cycle, including a drug-free period between drug regimens (4-6 weeks).

• The drug quantity far exceeds the recommended medical dose (200X)

• The athlete then progressively reduces the drug dosage in the months prior to competition (to avoid detection)

Methods of Administration

• The cycling of steroids coincides with competition• Many athletes use the training model –

“Periodization”• An athlete with a yearly training program

(macrocycle) subdivides the year into phases called mesocycles (3 months)

• As competition nears, training volume gradually decreases while training intensity increases

• Steroid use coincides with the mesocycles, with the goal of achieving maximum strength and size at competition

Oral Anabolic Steroids

• 17 – alpha methyl testosterone (Android)

• 17 – alpha ethyl testosterone (Maxibolin)

• 1 –methyl testosterone (Primobolan)

• Androstenediol (“Andro” food supplements)

• Androstenedione• Dihydroepiandrosterone

(DHEA)

Injectable Anabolic Steroids

• 19-nortesterone ester derivatives (Durabolin)• Testosterone ester derivatives (Oreton)• Testosterone cypionate derivatives (Virilon)• Boldenone• Stanozolol (Winstrol) oral form as well

Minimization of Side Effects

• Several techniques to minimize side effects both during cycles and post cycle

• Increase Cardiovascular exercise to counter act effects to counter effects on left ventricle

• Estrogen receptor modulators to reduce effect of aromatisation of steroid hormones (tamoxifen) reduce gynecomastia

Post Cycle Therapy

• “PCT” – takes place after each cycle to combat the natural testosterone suppression and restore proper function of numerous glands

• Typically consists of combination of the following drugs:

1. Clomiphene or tamoxifen (Primary PCT drug)2. Anastrozole – aromatase inhibitor3. HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) – restore

hormonal balance

Post Cycle Therapy

• Finasteride (Propecia) - reduces the conversion of testosterone to DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) – high rate of alopecia

• The drug is useless in cases in which the steroid is not converted into a more androgenic derivative

Legal Status

• Varies from country to country• U.S. – Schedule III controlled substance

(required prescription, possession without Rx. federal crime punishable to 7 years)

• Canada – Schedule IV (obtaining or selling punishable for up 18 months), possession not punishable

• Also illegal without Rx. In Australia, Argentina, Brazil and Portugal

• Legal in Mexico and Thailand

U.S legislation of A.S•Interest and debate after 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul following controversy of Ben Johnson•AS added to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act in the Anabolic Control Act of 1990•Prohormones or “Designer Steroids”not included (Androstenedione)

Prohormones

• In 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act was signed into law.

• This act classified substances derived from natural sources as food supplements and made many drugs such as prohormones available over the counter.

• Thus these substances are not regulated under the same rules and regulations by the FDA.(Loop Hole)

• This can result in the dosages and actual quality of these substances to be in question as they are sold to the consumer

• Amended in 2004(Androstenedione)

Status in Sports

• AS are being banned by all major sporting bodies:

1. IOC2. NBA3. NHL4. MLB5. NCAA

Status in Sports

• Testing in Texas high schools to start this year(UIL)

• Expensive• Jurisprudence• Normal T:ET ratio 1.3:1• 1 in 1000 men ratio of 4:1• Positive test result 6:1

Status in Sports

• For testosterone the definition of positive depends on an adverse analytical finding(pos. result) based on any reliable analytical method) e.g. IRMS,GCMS,CIS) which shows that the testosterone is of exogenous origin, or if the ratio of the total concentration of testosterone to that of eitestosterone in the urine is greater than 6:1, unless there is evidence that this ratio is due to a physiological or pathogolical condition.

Illegal Trade

• The majority of AS are obtained illegaly through black market trade

• Usually manufactured in other countries and smuggled across borders

• Smuggling usually done in conjunction w/other illegal drugs

• Organized crime is involved

Counterfeit Drugs• Significant health hazard• Computer and scanning

technology as made it to copy labels

• Product could contain anything(Vegetable oil to toxic substances)

• Users have died of injecting unknown substances in their body

• Products also diluted to maximize profits

Production and Distribution

• AS are either manufactured by legitimate pharmaceutical compaies or undergroud laboratories

• In the 1990’s most U.S. producers stopped making and marketing AS

• Eastern Europe still produce AS in quantity (most medical grade AS sold illegally in North America)

• Many illegal AS are veterinary grade(produced and handled in cruder and less sterile fashion)

Production and Distribution

• AS can be obtained from several sources

• Sold at gyms and competitions

• Illegal drug dealers• Mail order(magazines)• Internet(websites posing

as oversea pharmacies)