Are the cardiac effects of anabolic steroid abuse in strength athletes reversible?
A Urhausen, T Albers, W Kindermann
Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, University of Saarland Saarbruecken, Germany
Dr Urhausen Axel
Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, University of Saarland, 66041 Saarbruecken, Germany; [email protected]
Objective: To investigate the reversibility of adverse cardiovascular effects after chronic abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) in athletes.
Methods: Doppler echocardiography and cycle ergometry including measurements of blood pressure at rest and during exercise were undertaken in 32 bodybuilders or powerlifters, including 15 athletes who had not been taking AAS for at least 12 months (ex-users) and 17 currently abusing AAS (users), as well as in 15 anabolic-free weightlifters.
Results: Systolic blood pressure was higher in users (mean (SD) 140 (10) mm Hg) than in ex-users (130 (5) mm Hg) (p < 0.05) or weightlifters (125 (10) mm Hg; p < 0.001). Left ventricular muscle mass related to fat-free body mass and the ratio of mean left ventricular wall thickness to internal diameter were not significantly higher in users (3.32 (0.48) g/kg and 42.1 (4.4)%) than in ex-users (3.16 (0.53) g/kg and 40.3 (3.8)%), but were lower in weightlifters (2.43 (0.26) g/kg and 36.5 (4.0)%; p < 0.001). Left ventricular wall thickness related to fat-free body mass was also lower in weightlifters, but did not differ between users and ex-users. Left ventricular wall thickness was correlated with a point score estimating AAS abuse in users (r = 0.49, p < 0.05). In all groups, systolic left ventricular function was within the normal range. The maximum late transmitral Doppler flow velocity (Amax) was higher in users (61 (12) cm/s) and ex-users (60 (12) cm/s) than in weightlifters (50 (9) cm/s; p < 0.05 and p = 0.054).
Conclusions: Several years after discontinuation of anabolic steroid abuse, strength athletes still show a slight concentric left ventricular hypertrophy in comparison with AAS-free strength athletes.
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
- Albert Einstein
but if you remember jb's #1 rule of taking anabolics, concurrent use of ace's/arb/s will prevent or reverse LVH you will be fine.
I concur, and since I am a retard where and how much should we take. I really need to get on this train. So if you pls JB can you post what where and the protocol. Thanks
i was the 1997 International Spelling Bee Winnur
This article is a little misleading- it is cross sectional, so they cannot conclude anything about the development/regression of LVH. If they followed the indivdual groups over time & repeated the analysis, then they could work out the aetiology of LVH relative to steroid use. unfortunately that kind of study takes a long time & is expensive, so this is a "next best thing" approach. The other problem is quantifying how much roids were taken, and what type & for how long. Also, if you took roids 10 years ago & did nothing since, your LV size will be different to if you have continued doing weights or even switched to cardio since then. They haven't taken account of this in this study. There are too many variables!
Alot of the cardiac response to exercise is genetic, some endurance/ BB'rs get LVH whilst others get increased stroke volume. The old theory that endurance= only stroke voluume increase & weight lifting = only LVH is way oversimplified
I think the study is too generaliZed to make any conclusion. There's no dosages mentioned, no group who were all off at least several yrs, no group using ace inhibitors to reverse sides. I can't make any conclusions based on that.
Seabiscuit Hogg is a fictious internet character. It is not recommended that you receive medical advice from fictious internet characters.
SBH :)
I think the study is too generaliZed to make any conclusion. There's no dosages mentioned, no group who were all off at least several yrs, no group using ace inhibitors to reverse sides. I can't make any conclusions based on that.
I do agree
Nevertheless ..................
quote:
Conclusions: Several years after discontinuation of anabolic steroid abuse, strength athletes still show a slight concentric left ventricular hypertrophy in comparison with AAS-free strength athletes.
Something did occur .
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
- Albert Einstein
i will dig out the original study but i am taking a very small dose (5mg) of lisinipril. ace inhibitors do many good things for our bodies.
jb
Looking foward to it .
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
- Albert Einstein
like the new pic hotrocks, mighty mouse was always a favourite of mine!
Here I come to save the day !!!!!
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
- Albert Einstein
like the new pic hotrocks, mighty mouse was always a favourite of mine!
I was thinking the same thing! I may sound silly, but who on here didn't wonder what gave mighty mouse the extra je ne sais quoi . . .
I actually knew Mighty !
He was the one that first got me started on gear !
he got in trouble many years ago when Mickey walked in on him screwing the hell outa Minny !
Walt Disney got word of it and didn't like it so he contacted Isadore Klein and had Mighty suspended for a few short seasons.
But from what I hear , Mighty and Minny continued to have an affair until Goofy spilled his guts to Vanity Fair .
He still gets royalties from his toons along with additional income from his computer mouse investments .
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Add the CEM banner to your sig line so to help support CEM
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
- Albert Einstein
I actually knew Mighty !
He was the one that first got me started on gear !
he got in trouble many years ago when Mickey walked in on him screwing the hell outa Minny !
Walt Disney got word of it and didn't like it so he contacted Isadore Klein and had Mighty suspended for a few short seasons.
But from what I hear , Mighty and Minny continued to have an affair until Goofy spilled his guts to Vanity Fair .
He still gets royalties from his toons along with additional income from his computer mouse investments .
---------------------------------------------Add the CEM banner to your sig line so to help support CEM
LMAO!
LOL
Seabiscuit Hogg is a fictious internet character. It is not recommended that you receive medical advice from fictious internet characters.
SBH :)
i will dig out the original study but i am taking a very small dose (5mg) of lisinipril. ace inhibitors do many good things for our bodies.jb
yeah I'm on 10 mgs of benazepril. The amazing thing is the fact that I need to eat some salty snack food ed and avoid pottassium sups. Would have to take a boatload of Dbol to have any water retention. That's besides the vascular benefits.
Seabiscuit Hogg is a fictious internet character. It is not recommended that you receive medical advice from fictious internet characters.
SBH :)