Anabolic steroids: A review of the literature
Journal Title: Αρχεία Ελληνικής Ιατρικής - Year 2009, Vol 26, Issue 5
Abstract
Anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone. The use of anabolic steroids has spread considerably over recent decades, attracting the attention not only of professional athletes but also of the wider population. Anabolic steroids are used not only for the enhancement of athletic performance, but also for cosmetic and recreational purposes. The uncontrolled use of these compounds exerts deleterious effects on the health of the users, who in many cases are unaware of their hazards. Despite the clandestine atmosphere surrounding their use, during recent years the therapeutic value of anabolic steroids has been recognized by the medical world for several pathological conditions. This literature review presents the most commonly used compounds, their mechanisms of action at different levels and the physiological effects that anabolic steroids exert on the organism. Epidemiological data show that the problem of the massive consumption of anabolic steroids may have been underestimated. The therapeutic indications for these drugs are presented, and the most common side effects are reported, which affect most of the systems, and in multiple ways. The aim of this review is to provide information about the use of anabolic steroids in order to help the physician to recognize this specific group of disparate patient-users (body builders, teenagers, professional athletes) and to be able to detect health problems associated with abuse of anabolic steroids. The incorporation of evidence based arguments in the efforts of persuading these patients to discontinue the use of these compounds is the safest way to deal with this public health issue.
Authors and Affiliations
S. TSITSILONIS, D. PERREA
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP118726
- DOI -
- Views 47
- Downloads 0
Adrenal insufficiency
No abstract available
Pulmonary aspergillosis of the upper lobe of the left lung with tumor-like aspergilloma and chronic invasive aspergillosis
No abstract available
Οι επιπτώσεις της παχυσαρκίας και της δίαιτας στον καρκίνο του προστάτη
Ο καρκίνος του προστάτη αποτελεί σήμερα τη συχνότερη κακοήθη νόσο στους άνδρες του δυτικού κόσμου. Οι αιτίες έναρξης και εξέλιξης της νόσου είναι άγνωστες. Για την ερμηνεία των μεγάλων γεωγραφικών διακυμάνσεων της επίπτω...
Deontological problems in clinical research: The Informed Consent Document
Clinical research, that is to say research on human beings, has contributed considerably to the improvement of the health of society, but has also caused the appearance of a variety of problems in the wider sector of the...
From psychosocial stress to vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis
It has been shown that emotional stimuli can be translated into structural changes of the cardiovascular system. This myocardial and vascular remodeling is of great importance for the increased cardiovascular morbidity u...