THE EFFECTS OF ANABOLIC-ANDROGENIC STEROIDS TO THE MUSCLE GROWTH

DISCUSSION

The use of Anabolic-Androgenic steroids has been a trend for the past 50 years. It became a sort

of muscular body enhancement for bodybuilders who compete in Mr. Olympia, International

Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBF) and other muscle competitions around the world in

the 60s. Ever since the popularity of bodybuilding sprouted in Europe and America and more men

got caught up in the hype of creating a better image of themselves, steroids then have not been

introduced as a commercial drug open for public. Steroids were then used in certain medical

processes for patients with deficiency in testosterone. It is exclusive for medial use and can be

purchased only under the prescription of a medical doctor. Bodybuilders then became more

interested in going to gym, working out, and gaining muscles naturally than injecting substances

into their body to help them acquire massive muscle tone. Until there came some sort of a

paradigm shift when certain drug became commercial and studies helped better the

understanding of the benefits of steroids. Industrial pharmaceuticals begun researches and

created the Anabolic steroid. Anabolic steroids are synthetic drugs formulated for the building of

muscles and prolonging endurance and performance for bodybuilders and athletes.

With a wider knowledge of the synthetic drug, athletes and bodybuilders begun to engage to

injections of Anabolic steroids to enlarge their muscles to its full extent, and to enhance

performance and muscle endurance to athletes. Over the past decades, steroid use became a

hot issue when the government from different countries banned the use of this synthetic drug in

school for athletes and international competitions like Olympics, FIFA, and boxing. In an article

written by Robert Kusma in (1996), he said that the beautiful body is the accepted way of life, and

in some point, peer, cliques, and school groups are pressuring adolescents. Anabolic steroids are

synthetic laboratory produce drug that makes an individual bigger, faster, and stronger. However,

Kusma said that telling students about the drug is useless for these youth know better unless you

would tell them the adverse effects as well. Almost anyone can build their muscles and make

them more defined through exercise and diet (Larsen. 2013). But how big a person’s muscles can

grow naturally is determined by genetics, she adds. People nowadays believe that working out is

not enough to get buffed but with the help of supplements, it would be a lot easier to have bigger

body. Most men and women don’t settle for less but instead go to enormous lengths, to look at

their best when in company of other individuals. As cited in Peters and Phelps in (2001), steroid

use appeared to exacerbate the idealistic expectations. In a study of Blouin and Goldfield (1995),

a comparison between male bodybuilders who had used anabolic steroids to other athletes who

had not used anabolic steroids reported that bodybuilders were at higher risk for body image

dissatisfaction and distortion.

According to an article written by ELIZABETH FOY LARSEN (2013), how big a muscle can grow

naturally is determined by genes but almost anyone can make a more defined muscles through

exercise and diet. In a study by Dr. Harrison Pope, an author and professor at Harvard Medical

School, says that majority of the people we see in dietary supplement and muscle fitness

endorsements are taking steroids. Pope also emphasizes the black market’s availability of

anabolic steroids has made new standards of bodies that show unrealistic high bar for

attractiveness. The study shows that the unrealistic standards for the body can cause

psychological illness known as dysmorphic disorder in teens. Adolescents would have the

thinking that no matter how much they exercise and workout, they would always feel not satisfied

because of the brainwashing concepts introduced by media of bodies that are unnatural. Larsen

emphasized in her writing that taking steroids is not only harmful but also a form of cheating.

Excessive weight lifting—even without supplements or steroids—can also be dangerous. Doctors

don't recommend weight lining to boys younger than 14. For those old enough to weight lift, it's

important to work out under the supervision of a qualified trainer, Larsen adds. The synthetic

forms of testosterone, along with the pure, human-derived form, are banned in professional

sports as stated in her study.

Larsen, E. (2013). Anabolic steroids are deadly—and illegal. One teen's story shows how the

pressure for bigger muscles can lead to tragedy. Scholastic Choices. Pages 4-9

According to the study of Blouin and Goldfield (1994), male bodybuilders who exhibit a profile of

body-related attitudes and psychological characteristics similar to those commonly seen among

eating disorder patients and associated with anabolic steroid use. These body builders are at

higher risk of developing abnormal eating binging, purging, and restricting food in reference to the

Bulimia scale of the EDI. In addition the abnormal eating habits, bodybuilders reported

perfectionism, feelings of ineffectiveness, low interceptive awareness, and low self-esteem, the

proponents say. Based on self-reports of Blouin and Goldfield (1994), 44.2% of the

bodybuilders used steroids compared to 2.1% of the runners and none of the martial

artists, rates lower than the 72% steroid use in the Loosemore and Moriarty (1990) study. The

results of Blouin and Goldfield study do suggest that there is at least one identified subgroup of

male bodybuilders with psychological and behavioral characteristics similar to eating disorder

females. According to the present results, this group is at risk for developing high-risk behavioral

practices (notably steroid use, bulimic, and anorexic behavior) with an apparent purpose of

modifying their body in order to meet personal and/or societal expectations.

Blouin, A. & Goldfield, G. (1994). Body Image and Steroid Use in Male Bodybuilders. International

Journal of Eating Disorders. Vol. 18, No. 2,159-165 (1995)

In an article by Robert Kusma (1996), it was mentioned that the beautiful body is the accepted

way of life. Adolescents are somehow pressured by other factors particularly school groups to

engage in beautification of their body. The proponent mentioned that a physician in a U.S. team

used steroids on its athletes and noted that team members wanted to end their lives when they

saw the terrible side effects and abuses of steroid. In males, certain factors such as sexual

characteristics, puberty are affected by testosterone and androgens, which gives men deeper

voice, broader shoulders, muscles that grow heavier and increases libido, and without androgens,

organs for secretions and genitalia atrophy and cease function. Androgenic steroids are

manufactured in the body naturally, while anabolic steroids are laboratory produced synthetic

testosterone. Side effects of abuses in Anabolic steroids compiled by National Academy of Sports

Medicine, leads to different devastating results namely: balding in males and females, yellowing

of the skin due to liver malfunction, irreversible hair growth, aggressive behaviour, anxiety, fever,

impotence, and certain complications like: cancer in the brain, kidney and prostate, formation of

gallstones, shrunken testicles, tendon injuries, menstrual irregularities, heart disease and

premature closing of the epiphysis line in youngsters.

Kusma, R. (1996). Student Steroid Abuse. The Education Digest. 61/7 66-68

An article by Katherine Hobson (2002) says that if women believed strength training was only for

the likes of Schwarzenegger wannabes, it would not be surprising the women also wanted too.

Lifting weights provide health benefits to women. Women burn many calories when they pump

iron because it increases energy-burning muscles than simply sitting on the couch. Since the

muscles take up less room than fat, one is likely to drop a size of two along with some pounds.

Hobson emphasizes that women have less muscle tissue and far less testosterone than men.

Osteoporosis, an illness that threatens 44 million people more commonly to women, can most

likely be starved off by weight lifting. Hobson adds that lifting weights has been shown to protect

against muscle loss prompted by the low-protein diets prescribed for proteins with kidney

diseases. On the other hand, weights can also be beneficial to women with fibromyalgia.

Hobson, K. (2002). The Stronger Sex. U.S. News & World Report. 132(16) 52-53.

According to Naylor and Garg (1996), the aim of this study is to examine the “why” of recreational

athletes’ use for taking supplements. Through pre-tested questionnaires ( 36 item self-

administered questionnaire, 15 item multiple choice, a ranking system and open-ended

questions) that are designed to be taken with isochoric duration, which is ten minutes, is prepared

and was used on seventy-five anonymous individuals. Burke and Read state, “most studies

reporting the supplementation practices of athletes fail to provide the most relevant information:

the type of supplements used; the amounts taken; and most importantly, the rationale for their

use.” Only three studies, as cited by the author, examined the beliefs concerning supplementation

namely: Neiman et al. which studied about elite marathon runners in America; Burke and Read

which studied about Olyimpic standard weight lifters and Barr which studied about female

athletes in American College. No study has been done in the recreational body builders in

Australia or other counties in order to investigate the beliefs of the usage of the drug.

Questionnaires were administered to four local gyms in Whales. As a result, the knowledge about

nutrition on the athletes were found to be insufficient, due to their beliefs about the supplements

to be a misconception, some of which says that they will feel younger and become more healthier

with it. The results show that recreational athletes may indicate a need for education on the topic.

Naylor, A. & Manohar, G. (1996). A Pilot study to examine the reasons for taking dietary

supplements in recreational body builders in the Westlakes area. Australian Journal of Nutririon

and Dietetics. 53(3) 127-133.

In a study by Mark Anthony Peters and Leadelle Phelps (2001), an experiment in State University

of New York at Buffalo compared college bodybuilders by sex and steroid intake on to two

variables: body image dissatisfaction and body image distortion. Results revealed only a

significant effect for gender on body distortion. Further analyses indicated that female

bodybuilders were into both longing for more muscle bulk and thinner frame, while the males

were more into desiring more muscle mass. These results are compared to previous research

with non-bodybuilders wherein body image dissatisfaction was unidirectional for females yet

bidirectional for males (Wiley and Sons. 2001). Most men and women go to greater lengths

thinking they would look their best when in company with other people. Rodin (1992) advocated

that, because society places such a great emphasis on attractiveness, some young adults spend

as many hours preparing to look good as they do attending college classes or at their

employment site. Men often desire to be more muscular with well-developed chest and arm

muscles and wide shoulders tapering down to a narrow waist (Heinberg & Thompson, 1992;

Mishkind, Rodin, Silberstein, & Striegel-Moore, 1986). In a qualitative study, Klein (1986)

concluded that poor physical self-esteem led many body- builders to start working out in the

beginning and noted that a sizable proportion reported satisfaction with their bodies only after

months in the gym. The author emphasizes that the steroid use became an exaggeration of the

idealistic expectations. The ideal male body has undergone an evolutionary change. In a study of

Blouin and Goldfield (1995), a comparison between male bodybuilders who had used anabolic

steroids to other athletes who had not used anabolic steroids reported that bodybuilders were at

higher risk for body image dissatisfaction and distortion.

Peters, M.A., Phelps, L. (2001). Body image dissatisfaction and distortion, steroid use, and sex

differences in college age bodybuilders. Psychology in the Schools. 38(3) 283-289.

The study about the comparison of competitive bodybuilders, weight trainers, and athletes,

emphasizes that many of today’s media images of muscularity are unattainable for most men

(Pickett, T.C., Lewis, R.J., Cash, T.F. 2005). In the study, it was reported that competitive

bodybuilders were heavier in body mass than were either non-competitive weight trainers or

athletically active controls. Both bodybuilders and weight trainers were more satisfied with their

upper torso and their body’s overall muscle tone than were active controls. Differences were seen

on participants’ satisfaction with specific aspects of the body. In comparison with the other two

groups, competitive body builders were more satisfied with their abdominal are. In his study,

Pope et al 40 found that nine of 108 bodybuilders—that is, about 8%—met criteria for muscle

dysmorphia. The author emphasizes that although the highly muscular, competitive bodybuilders

in the study are still unsatisfied and wanting to be even more muscular. He said aspiration did not

diminish their body image satisfaction in other respects. On the same note, the findings were said

to be were more consistent with the conclusion of a better global body image and a more

favorable self-evaluation of body definition among body- builders. Pickett et al. points that future

research is crucial to distinguish those men for whom bodybuilding is a self enhancing activity

from those for whom it is a self perpetuating facet of excessive and dysphoric preoccupation with

the muscularity and adiposity of the body.

Pickett, T.C., Lewis, R.J., Cash, T.F. (2005). Men, muscles, and body image: comparisons of

competitive bodybuilders, weight trainers, and athletically active controls. British Journal of Sports

Medicine. 39 217-222.

INCLUDE: FIGURE OF ANABOLIC STEROIDAn article that features Anabolic Steroid Misuse (2013), published by NHS Choices UK, states

that Anabolic steroids are manufactured drugs that mimic the effects of the male hormone

testosterone and they shouldn’t be confused with corticosteroids, a different type of steroid drug

that's commonly prescribed for a variety of conditions. In Great Britain, steroids are taken

regularly by athletes, weightlifters, and bodybuilders to build their bodies and improve physical

activity. However, people of all ages have been known to misuse these drugs,

including adolescent boys who suffer from body dysmorphia—the mindset of someone who thinks

his body doesn’t match the way it looks. This makes teenage boys take drugs because they

believe they are not physically big enough. In most cases, anabolic steroids are injected into the

muscles, but they may also come in tablets that could be taken orally or creams that can be skin

deep alone. Like many other substances, the author declares that anabolic steroids are addictive.

This means one can crave the drug, require more to get the same effect and have withdrawal

symptoms if you suddenly stop taking them. In addition, the proponent professes that one should

consult for a General Physician if the thinks he is already addicted to steroids. It is said in the

study that treatment for anabolic steroids is similar to other types of addiction

(2013). Anabolic Steroid Abuse. NHS Choices. Retrieved October 23, 2014, from

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anabolic-steroid-abuse/Pages/Introduction.aspx

__________________________________________

Athletes are often users of steroid; it’s because of the power of the AAS to make someone

stronger. AAS are synthetic derivatives of the naturally produced hormone testosterone. But the

question is, ‘how much AAS builds lean muscle mass?’ Once the drug is taken, AAS travels

through the blood stream then to the muscle tissue. It is drawn into the muscle cell and interacts

with the DNA and stimulates protein synthesis process that promotes cell growth. AAS also

blocks cortisol and thus produce sore muscles. On the other hand, anabolic steroids can also be

a benefit to pitchers and those who need a faster turnaround from sore, worn out muscles.

Peterson mentioned that intense exercise also releases cortisol, known as the stress hormone,

which breaks down muscle tissue, producing sore muscles. He also emphasizes that few hours of

lifting weights each week would be a lot better strength-building option.

Peterson, D. (2009). How Do Steroids Work? . LiveScience. Retrieved October 22, 2014, from

http://www.livescience.com/3349-steroids-work.html

An article about AAS presents that it had been used in the treatment of depression and other

mental disorder in the past. AAS use has been associated with self-reported changes in mood,

behavior and bodily perceptions. AAS may increase arousal, self-confidence and pain threshold.

This phenomena will lead to the expression of aggression at improper times in the absence of

enough external forces, internal discipline or social coping skills. Individuals using AAS have also

reported increased aggression and irritability. In a study by Wright et al (1986) it was found out

that the POMS did not confirm a difference of mood states between current AAS users and

former AAS users although both groups reported changes in enthusiasm, aggression, irritability,

insomnia, muscle size, and libido when using AAS. Althought, it has been argued that the main

subjectively perceived psychological and behavioral changes by AAS users are due to

expectancy, imitation or role modeling Psychological Effects of AAS.

(2014). In Exercise Prescription on the Net. Retrieved October 22, 2014, from

http://www.exrx.net/AnabolicSteroids/Psychological.html

Structures of Anabolic-Androgenic steroids with corresponding diagnostic metabolites and

examples of registered trade names. Superscripts refer to 17B-hydroxyl-esterified preparation:

undecylenoate; acetate; propionate; heptanoate; decanoate; hexahydrobenzylcarbonate.

Chemistry and Structure of Anabolic and Androgenic Steroids

By Zack - MuscleTalk Pro-member

In an article by Zack - MuscleTalk Pro-member (2014), published by Muscle Tanks Article (, UK,

the general structure of steroids contain a variety of usefulness in the human body. Certain

factors that do not limit the control of steroids over the body are: fat storage, carbohydrate

metabolism, muscle growth, immune factor and nerve cell membrane chemistry. The divisions of

steroids fall under estrogens, progestogens, and catabolics but only androgens and anabolic

were considered in the study. Androgens exert some kind of masculinizing physical effect on the

body, while anabolic promote growth, the author says. On this statement, the said distinctions are

completely exclusive, like when testosterone is synthesized by the adrenal cortex as well as the

testes, and has both anabolic and androgenic properties. Steroids are fat-soluble hormones with

a tetracyclic base structure. Steroids are synthesized in the body from squalene, later cyclized to

form cholesterol, which is then hydroxylated and modified by the enzyme cytochrome P-450 into

Pregnenolone. Zack MuscleTalk (2014) emphasizes that all steroids function in a very similar way

at cellular and molecular level. It is stated in the article that once in the cytoplasm, the steroids

bind to receptors, which are composed of proteins. This forms what is known as a steroid-

receptor complex. The complexes then undergo dimerization, where two complexes bind together

to form a dimer. The dimer will then travel to the nucleus of the cell and bind to DNA, where it

promotes gene transcription and translation, leading to the production of proteins. While the

author proclaims that steroid effects on gene expression and protein production are complicated

to understand, the effect of steroids on genes is determined by the type of cell, which it is present.

Zack MuscleTalk (2014). Chemistry and Structure of Anabolic and Androgenic Steroids. Muscle Talk Article, UK.

Structures of Anabolic-Androgenic steroids with corresponding diagnostic metabolites and

examples of registered trade names. Superscripts refer to 17B-hydroxyl-esterified preparation:

undecylenoate; acetate; propionate; heptanoate; decanoate; hexahydrobenzylcarbonate.

Figure 2: Adverse effects from Anabolic Steroid Administration

In an organic chemistry book written by Brown and Poon (2014), it is written that anabolic steroids

are used in rehabilitation medicine, such when muscle deterioration occurs. And in some athletes,

misuse of AAS is done to gain muscle mass and strength. There are enormous, heightened

aggressive, infertility, impotence & even premature diabetes, coronary artery disease & cancer.

Steroids, as stated by Bloch and Lynen, is derived from acetyl group of acetyl-COA where 15/27

C of cholesterol are from the methyl group of acetyl-COA and 12/27 C are from the carbonyl

group of acetyl-COA.. From acetyl coenzyme A to (R) – mevalonate to Isopentyl pyrophosphate

to Geranyl pyrophosphate to Farnesyl Pyrophosphate to Squalene to Cholesterol then to

Steroids. Cholesterol is highly stereoselective – it is only one of the 256 possible stereoisomers.

Brown, W. & Poon, T. (2014). Introduction to Organic Chemistry 5th Edition. John Wiley & Sons

INC. New Jersey. Pp 658 - 662

In the comprehensible study conducted by A T Kicman (2008) Pharmacology of Anabolic

Steroids, “the behavioural effects of androgens/anabolic steroids in men and women, including

those concerning sexual behaviour, cognitive abilities, aggression and mood, have been

reviewed by Lukas (1996), Christiansen (2001, 2004) and Kuhn (2002) and are also discussed in

the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Research Monographs (Katz and Pope, 1990; Svare,

1990; Yesalis et al., 1990). Androgens are critical to the human male sexual behaviour and they

can also enhance female sexual desire and arousal.” Kicman emphasizes that testosterone

appears to play an important role in cognitive functioning, such as attention and alertness,

memory and spatial skills, although based on the conclusions of a limited number of studies. In

mood, it is said that positive correlations of endogenous androgen concentrations with a sense of

well-being and joyfulness, while negative correlations include depression and anxiety. Anabolic

steroid use give rise to major mood syndromes like hypomania during exposure and depressive

symptoms during steroid withdrawal (Pope and Katz, 1994).

Kicman, A.T. (2008). Pharmacology of Anabolic Steroids. British Journal of Pharmacology. 154(3)

502-521

These are the effects of Anabolic steroid abuse to other sections of the body tabulated with

reference to specific body part aside from the muscles. The table shows the adverse results when

the synthetic drug is abused through excessive dosage misused as substitute medication.

HELPFUL : http://www.steroidabuse.com/side-effects-of-steroids.html

Figure 3: Figure Rating Scale for Body Image Distortion

-The figure rating scale was used in the study of Peters and Phelps (2001) to assess body image dissatisfaction

and body image distortion. It contained 9 figure drawings of each sex arranged from thin (1) to a very muscular

(9) shape (see Figure 1).

-The variations in drawings were intended to reflect changes in muscular development.

Participants were asked to rate their current body image by putting an X on the silhouette drawing that best

represented her or his current status. Participants were then asked to place an O on the figure that best

represented her or his ideal image.

-It was found out that there is an important gender difference between male and female bodybuilders in body

image distortion.

Effects of Long Term Supplementation of Anabolic Androgen Steroids on Human Skeletal Muscle

(Yu J-G, Bonnerud P, Eriksson A, Sta Sl PS, Tegner Y, et al. 2014). The study conducted by the

proponent composed of seventeen strength training athletes were recruited and individually

interviewed regarding self- administration of banned substances. There were 10 subjects who

admitted to have taken AAS derivatives from the past 5 – 15 years and were classified as Doped.

On the other hand, the remaining 7 subjects were reported to have never been in use of any

prohibited substances and were classified as Clean. The study states that compared with the

Clean athletes, the Doped athletes had significantly higher lean leg mass, capillary per fiber and

myonuclei per fiber. However, Doped athletes had significant lower absolute value in maximal

squat force and relative values in maximal squat force. Yu et al. concluded long term AAS

supplementation has led to increase lean leg mass, muscle fiber size and a parallel improvement

in muscle strength, and all were dose- dependent.