Anabolic steroids

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Anabolic steroids (singular anabolic steroids or ascina steroids ; from Greek ἀναβολé anabolé "throw", from ἀνά ana "to" and βάλλειν bállein "throw") are substances that promote the build-up of the body's own tissue primarily through increased protein synthesis , i.e. a so-called anabolic effect to have. Although they usually cause weight gain, this is not the essential feature of anabolic steroids: on the one hand, the weight gain when using anabolic steroids is partly due to water retention, on the other hand, some anabolic steroids also cause such increased fat loss that body weight is not significant despite muscle gain increases. All anabolic steroids, meanwhile, ensure a positive nitrogen balance and thus a muscle-building-friendly metabolism. Substances with an anabolic effect include, in particular, selective androgen receptor modulators , anabolic steroids , β 2 sympathomimetics and growth hormones . They are used in cattle breeding , in human medicine and as substances in sport , although they are generally prohibited as doping in competitive sport .

Substances and their side effects

The best known representatives of the anabolic steroids are the anabolic steroids . In addition to testosterone itself, artificially produced steroids , which have an effect similar to the male sex hormone testosterone, are used. The most important representatives are Dehydrochlormethyltestosteron , Nandrolon , Metandienon , Stanozolol , Furazabol and Metenolon . Characteristic side effects of these substances are acne , cardiovascular problems and liver damage (including Peliosis hepatis ). New studies on athletes show that the long-term use of anabolic steroids damages the heart far more than previously thought. According to a recent study, the regular consumption of steroids especially affects the pumping function of the left ventricle. In the study, the pumping performance of steroid users was only half that of doping-free athletes. Significantly reduced pumping power is an important risk factor for heart failure and sudden cardiac death .

In men, it can also in addition to gynecomastia , a testicular atrophy with cessation of sperm production are observed as testosterone and its derivatives suppress pituitary gonadotropin. Gynecomastia is caused by the partial conversion of testosterone into estrogen by means of the enzyme aromatase in fat and muscle tissue. Excessive production of testosterone also increases dihydrotestosterone production, which promotes partial hair loss. Although this is primarily a cosmetic side effect, it often results in psychological problems for the people concerned. In women, taking anabolic steroids can lead to increased body hair, changes in the menstrual cycle , clitoral growth, and changes in the pitch of the voice.

The β 2 sympathomimetics are also considered anabolic steroids . These substances were developed as medicinal substances for the treatment of asthmatic complaints . In addition to the desired bronchodilator effect, they show lipolytic (fat-reducing) and muscle-building side effects . These side effects are deliberately exploited in particular in animal husbandry and sport doping . Clenbuterol in particular is used as an anabolic steroid. Cardiovascular problems, muscle tremors, muscle cramps and headaches are common side effects of the systemic use of β 2 -sympathomimetics.

Growth hormones and growth factors regulate cell and body growth and thus also have an anabolic effect. They include u. a. Somatotropin (growth hormone, hGH), insulin and the somatomedins , which are also known as insulin-like growth factors IGF. In particular, the body's own substances somatotropin and somatomedin C (IGF-1), which are currently undetectable in doping tests, are used forbidden in sport to improve performance. Insulin is often used in combination with somatotropin because insulin compensates for the reduced glucose uptake into muscle cells caused by somatotropin. The use of growth hormones such as somatotropin carries the risk of side effects such as acromegaly and diabetes mellitus (type 2). The risk of developing cancers such as leukemia also increases.

effect

The effect of anabolic steroids is based on their influence on the building metabolism ( anabolism ) of the human body, whereby the protein build-up is particularly promoted. The synthesis of protein in the organism is increased and, at the same time, the breakdown of the body's own protein stores is reduced. With intensive training at the same time, the increased protein resynthesis due to anabolic steroids can accelerate muscle hypertrophy .

Individual evidence

  1. Achim Paululat, Günter Purschke, Erwin Hentschel (founder): Dictionary of Zoology: Animal Names, General Biological, Anatomical, Physiological, Ecological Terms. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg 2011, ISBN 978-3-8274-2115-9 , pp. 57 .
  2. AL Baggish et al .: Long Term Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use is Associated with Left Ventricular Dysfunction . In: Circ Heart Fail . E-Pub ahead of print, 2010, p. 2 , PMID 20424234 (English).
  3. Anabolic steroids side effects. Retrieved April 1, 2020 .