Intrasexual competition as a potential influence on anabolic-androgenic steroid use initiation

An estimated 293,000 people living in the United Kingdom have used anabolic-androgenic steroids. However, there is currently no intervention to reduce usage available in practice or academic circulation throughout the United Kingdom. This study aimed to test a novel hypothesis that increased levels of intrasexual competition may play an important influential role in the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids. Significantly higher levels of intrasexual competition were evident in users compared to non-users but only in the novice group (0–2 years of experience). The research provides evidence for intrasexual competition potentially influencing anabolic-androgenic steroid use but only during the initial stages of usage.

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Anabolic-androgenic steroid use among bodybuilders in Erbil city

Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.15218/zjms.2021.032 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 657-665

Author(s):

Ramadhan Ahmed ◽

Karwan Sulaiman ◽

Muhammed Hasan ◽

Ali Dauod

Keyword(s):

Anabolic Steroids ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids ◽

Anabolic Androgenic Steroid ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Duration Of Action ◽

Steroid Use ◽

Steroid Abuse ◽

Androgenic Steroid ◽

Androgenic Steroids

Background and objective: Anabolic-androgenic steroids are synthetic testosterone derivatives with a longer duration of action than physiological androgens. They are abused by bodybuilders because of their potential to enhance muscle strength. Serious medical and psychological complications may be associated with their non-medical use. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroids among bodybuilders and their awareness of health-related risks. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from the 1st of January 2019 to the end of July 2019 in 18 randomly selected gym centers in Erbil city, Iraq using stratified random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 400 bodybuilders to assess the prevalence and knowledge of using Anabolic-androgenic steroids. Results: The study showed a high prevalence of Anabolic-androgenic steroid consumption (26.3%) among gym users in Erbil city. Anabolic-androgenic steroid use was significantly higher among participants with a longer duration of bodybuilding practice ≥4 years (P = 0.001). Anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse was significantly associated with drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and using growth hormones. Trainers were the commonest source of recommendation. Conclusion: The prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroids abuse is high among bodybuilders in Erbil city. Public health awareness is essential and may help avoid the propagation of the problem. Keywords: Anabolic steroids; Gym users; Bodybuilders; Knowledge, Erbil.

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Long-Term Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Use Is Associated with Increased Atrial Electromechanical Delay in Male Bodybuilders

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2014/451520 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Mustafa Akçakoyun ◽

Elnur Alizade ◽

Recep Gündoğdu ◽

Mustafa Bulut ◽

Mehmet Mustafa Tabakcı ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids ◽

Anabolic Androgenic Steroid ◽

Electromechanical Delay ◽

Steroid Use ◽

Atrial Electromechanical Delay ◽

Androgenic Steroid ◽

Androgenic Steroids

We investigated the effect of long-term supraphysiologic doses of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) on atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) in male bodybuilders. We clearly demonstrated that long-term consumption of supraphysiologic doses of AAS is associated with higher values of inter- and intra-AEMD in healthy young bodybuilders.

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Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids and Psychiatric-Related Effects: A Review*

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/070674379203700106 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 23-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Leo Uzych

Keyword(s):

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids ◽

Anabolic Androgenic Steroid ◽

Steroid Use ◽

Clinical Observations ◽

Behavioural Effects ◽

Wide Range ◽

Males And Females ◽

Disparate Data ◽

Androgenic Steroids

Anabolic-androgenic steroid use may have a wide range of adverse psychiatric and behavioural effects. The available data, however, are often inconsistent and inconclusive concerning possible effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids on libido in men, in women and also the way in which they affect libido differently in males and females. Anabolic-androgenic steroids may both relieve and cause depression. Cessation or diminished use of anabolic-androgenic steroids may also result in depression. More study is required to determine whether or not the disparate data on depression are consistent clinical observations. The level of testosterone appears to be positively associated with “aggression”, particularly in response to provocation! Various psychotic symptoms and manic episodes may be associated with anabolic-androgenic steroids. The possibility of hypomania induced by synthetic androgens must also be considered.

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Anabolic androgenic steroid abuse in the United Kingdom: An update

British Journal of Pharmacology ◽

10.1111/bph.14995 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 177 (10) ◽

pp. 2180-2198 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Carrie Mullen ◽

Benjamin J. Whalley ◽

Fabrizio Schifano ◽

Julien S. Baker

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Anabolic Androgenic Steroid ◽

Steroid Abuse ◽

Androgenic Steroid ◽

The United Kingdom

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Sudden Cardiac Death in Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Users: A Literature Review

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina56110587 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (11) ◽

pp. 587

Author(s):

Marco Torrisi ◽

Giuliana Pennisi ◽

Ilenia Russo ◽

Francesco Amico ◽

Massimiliano Esposito ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sudden Cardiac Death ◽

Cardiac Death ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids ◽

Pathophysiological Mechanism ◽

Anabolic Androgenic Steroid ◽

Sports Activity ◽

Androgenic Steroid ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Androgenic Steroids

Background and objectives: Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) are a group of synthetic molecules derived from testosterone and its related precursors. AASs are widely used illicitly by adolescents and athletes, especially by bodybuilders, both for aesthetic uses and as performance enhancers to increase muscle growth and lean body mass. When used illicitly they can damage health and cause disorders affecting several functions. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the most common medical cause of death in athletes. SCD in athletes has also been associated with the use of performance-enhancing drugs. This review aimed to focus on deaths related to AAS abuse to investigate the cardiac pathophysiological mechanism that underlies this type of death, which still needs to be fully investigated. Materials and Methods: This review was conducted using PubMed Central and Google Scholar databases, until 21 July 2020, using the following key terms: “((Sudden cardiac death) OR (Sudden death)) AND ((androgenic anabolic steroid) OR (androgenic anabolic steroids) OR (anabolic-androgenic steroids) OR (anabolic-androgenic steroid))”. Thirteen articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, for a total of 33 reported cases. Results: Of the 33 cases, 31 (93.9%) were males while only 2 (61%) were females. Mean age was 29.79 and, among sportsmen, the most represented sports activity was bodybuilding. In all cases there was a history of AAS abuse or a physical phenotype suggesting AAS use; the total usage period was unspecified in most cases. In 24 cases the results of the toxicological analysis were reported. The most detected AASs were nandrolone, testosterone, and stanozolol. The most frequently reported macroscopic alterations were cardiomegaly and left ventricular hypertrophy, while the histological alterations were foci of fibrosis and necrosis of the myocardial tissue. Conclusions: Four principal mechanisms responsible for SCD have been proposed in AAS abusers: the atherogenic model, the thrombosis model, the model of vasospasm induced by the release of nitric oxide, and the direct myocardial injury model. Hypertrophy, fibrosis, and necrosis represent a substrate for arrhythmias, especially when combined with exercise. Indeed, AAS use has been shown to change physiological cardiac remodeling of athletes to pathophysiological cardiac hypertrophy with an increased risk of life-threatening arrhythmias.

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The Prevalence of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Misuse in Iranian Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Iranian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.18502/ijph.v50i6.6411 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maryam Selk-Ghaffari ◽

Sakineh Shab-Bidar ◽

Farzin Halabchi

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Prevalence Rate ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

National Level ◽

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids ◽

Significant Heterogeneity ◽

Anabolic Androgenic Steroid ◽

Androgenic Steroid ◽

Global Statistics ◽

Androgenic Steroids

Background: Due to widespread abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids among professional athletes and amateur sportsmen and their health-related problems, determining the prevalence and the pattern of anabolicandrogenic steroid misuse at the national level seems to be vital for designing efficient preventive and educational measures. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted via comprehensive searches of the electronic databases including PubMed, MedLine, Scopus, Google Scholar and National Persian Databases including SID, Magiran, IranDoc (between 1980 and Dec 2019 in English and Persian languages) and also from citations in the selected papers. Overall, 39 articles met the criteria and were included in qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Results: The overall prevalence rate of anabolic-androgenic steroid misuse in the Iranian athletic population was 36.2% (95% confidence interval (CI), 29-43) with significant heterogeneity between studies (I2=99.0%, P<0.001). Prevalence rate of anabolic-androgenic steroid misuse among elite, male and younger athletes was higher (P<0.05). Moreover, prevalence rate of anabolic-androgenic steroid misuse among body-building athletes (36.3%) was higher compared to other athletes (30.9%), (P<0.001). Conclusion: Due to the higher prevalence of anabolic-androgenic steroids misuse in Iran compared to global statistics and the potential for serious adverse effects, preventive strategies and policies should be regarded as a real concern for public health.

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