A Discussion on Anabolic Steroids

by Panos Prokos, MS, CSCS

No list of training related articles would be complete without a reference to the subject of anabolic steroids. The current scandal revelations and latest athlete prosecutions due to steroid use are just too many to justify trainers and coaches from not taking action against the problem. The runners are hitting speeds that were considered inconceivable a few decades ago, the world's top cyclists are racing at speeds that cars of the late fifties could not attain and the swimmers are chasing the fishes. The question is: Where are the world records heading to, and to what extend is anabolic steroid use implicated?

Let me make myself clear: I do NOT suggest in any way that the world's best athletes and record holders owe their success to the use of anabolic steroids. In fact, what I am proposing is more strict doping control and testing protocols, in order to prove that the champions owe their success to dedication, hard work, plenty of sacrifices and favorable genetics.

My experience as a trainer has actually proven the point I just mentioned. I have been asked repeatedly to suggest steroid treatments, I have been e-mailed more times that you can imagine with questions on which combination of steroids will prove the best muscularity benefits, or whether Deca should be combined with Proviron or Winstrol. I have received questions from desperate steroid users asking me whether the gynecomastia they experience is result of their most recent stacking cycle, or what is the best way to decrease excessive water gain on a cycle of Testoviron. In all these cases the inquisitive was either a novice in the sports-field or someone who thought that increasing the size of his muscles would guarantee him success in other areas of life...

These questions have actually brought me in a difficult position. On one hand there is a need to educate and on the other, there are the negative consequences resulting from such education. Consequences such as making the use and abuse of the drugs easier to implement, have led me to take my final stance on the subject: I do not answer any steroid related questions. In any case, there are many physicians out there who have more expertise on the subject and who can probably provide the right answers. In addition, obtaining anabolic steroids under the guidance of a physician can give you at least two crucial advantages: First, your health will be monitored therefore the risks will be minimized and secondly and most important, you will not have to worry about counterfeits.

Which brings me to the subject of obtaining the real juice. When Dianabol became widely abused by athletes, the only solution was to bring its production to a halt at least in the United States. Other countries continued its manufacture but much of the Dianabol used in the United States after this point, was unfortunately counterfeit. The problem with any counterfeit steroid is twofold. First you can never be sure as to the actual contents of the vial and the potencies of the drug, and secondly you are not aware of the sanitary conditions in which the unregulated manufacturing lab was operated. However, it is obvious that the user who has obtained the drug is a high risk seeking person and has already made a decision to afford a risk. Compiling extra risk on top of the first will probably not deter him or her. The solution might be to educate the user on spotting the counterfeits but again that may lead to making steroid use easier to implement.

Lets move a bit away form the subject of counterfeits and go back to some basic facts about what anabolic steroids are as I am sure that some of the readers would like to acquire some more information. The human body makes use of a number of hormones which are produced in various endocrine glands. I am not going to get into the details of the human endocrine system as this is beyond the scope of this article. For the purposes of this article suffice to say that among these hormones the one that promotes muscle size and strength is the hormone Testosterone. It is produced by both males and females but the amounts circulating inside the male body are much higher than that of the female's. The amount of testosterone varies in line with factors such as lifestyle, age, genetics, stress, etc. but there is a feedback mechanism that controls the amount of testosterone our bodies produce. In other words, if the circulating testosterone is sensed to be too high, the body decreases its production until balance is obtained and vice versa. If you ladies start producing way too much testosterone, you are going to develop male pattern baldness, hairy chests and many other masculine features. If you guys do not produce enough of it, you will not know whether you should lead or follow on the dance floor. So, as you see, maintaining the appropriate amount is crucial.

We should also mention that testosterone has two main properties. The Androgenic which promotes the male characteristics such as deeper voice, rougher skin, development of male reproductive organs, etc. and the Anabolic which promotes increased muscle size. Obviously the Anabolic property is the one that would be of most interest to athletes as it could lead to enhanced sports performance. However, the Androgenic property would also be of interest as it can also affect performance through other pathways such as more aggressive training, and increased strength. As you can see, if we could develop a way to control the amount of Androgenic and Anabolic properties of the hormone we could produce a perfect drug that could help the athlete achieve the specific results that his or her sport requires.

Enter the anabolic steroids. These are nothing more than variations of testosterone with different amounts of Anabolic or Androgenic properties. I would rather not mention specific names of Anabolic and Androgenic steroids as I would not like to make it easier for some readers to obtain information that would lead them towards their use. Suffice to say that there are at least 30 different names of currently available androgenic or anabolic steroids that immediately come to mind. Of course, they are all available for treating medical issues under the care and guidance of a physician and not for athletic or recreational use.

As mentioned, anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of the hormone testosterone. However anabolic steroids are not the only drugs associated with increased sports performance. About fifteen years ago, bodybuilders started using an already existing prescription medication named Clenbuterol in order to increase muscle mass but primarily to reduce fat and aid muscularity. Clenbuterol which was also marketed under the names Spiropent and Oxyflux, had been on the market as a prescription medication for asthma sufferers. Clenbuterol primarily increased response of the sympathetic nervous system by simulating the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline hormones. In 1993 a study conducted by the University of Melbourne in Australia concluded that when Clenbuterol was administered in laboratory animals at dosages of 2 mg, the animals exhibited increased motor performance and experienced increases in muscle size. It was not long after this study that the abuse of the Clenbuterol escalated among bodybuilders who consumed the drug in their search to increase muscle size and reduce body fat. It turned out that although muscle size was not significantly increased, the drug aided in fat loss and at the same time promoted an anti-catabolic effect, in other words reduced the break down of muscle tissue. The problem with Clenbuterol was that it also increased the size of the heart muscle through accumulation of collagen fibers leading to serious side effects such as a decrease in heart stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped from the heart in one stroke) and possible heart arrhythmia. Soon after that, the FDA banned not only its use but also its possession.

Another drug which has been used primarily from Endurance athletes and does not fall under the hormonal derivatives is Erythropoietin also known as EPO. This drug was developed for the treatment of blood diseases but Endurance athletes soon realized its potential benefits to their Aerobic ability. The drug acts by increasing the number of red blood cells which carry oxygen to the muscles. The effects experienced by EPO users are similar to the ones experienced by athletes training at high altitudes. However, usage of the drug by healthy athletes can have potential serious side effects such as: High blood pressure, decreased rate of blood flow through the body, as well as headache, visual changes and chest pain.

Lets examine a bit more the risks associated with steroid use. There is a significant number of possible side effects the most common being: Increased water retention, development of breast tissue in males (gynecomastia), prostate enlargement, yellowing of the skin and/or eyes, liver tumors, headaches and hair loss to name a few. The truth is that most experienced and educated users are familiar with techniques such as appropriate combinations of drugs which counter the side effects of each other as well as appropriate choice of the drug from the very beginning therefore further minimizing the possibility of side effects. Again, I will not give any examples of such techniques since I do not wish to make it any easier for some readers to initiate a steroid treatment, but I am mentioning this fact so as to show that there is a way to use steroids while minimizing the risks and side effects. Again, consult a physician familiar with the subject before initiating any such use.

For those who have chosen to ignore the risks and are already using or planning to make use of the drugs, here are a few ways that the more seasoned users have found to be helpful:

• Lipotropic elements (Choline, Methionine, Inositol, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid) help support the liver particularly when c17-alpha-alkylated oral steroids are used which are highly toxic.
• Many users particularly bodybuilders who are concerned with increased water retention, have found Vitamin C to be of help especially in dosages of 2 grams a day as it usually produces a diuretic effect.
• Injectable forms of steroids, as mentioned above, bypass the liver and therefore avoid being metabolized by it. Therefore, the risk of liver damage is somewhat minimized although never completely eliminated.
• Keep in mind that the sciatic nerve (one of the major nerves in your body) runs across the lower back and if you do not have the necessary knowledge and expertise in injection techniques you may pierce this nerve something that will probably knock you out from the pain and may also result in temporary paralysis.
• Many users have found that consumption of a good amino acid supplement particularly in liquid form one hour before exercise on an empty stomach can further enhance muscle gains derived from the steroids.
• Bodybuilders who are concerned with water retention (especially during contest preparation) have found that minimizing salt consumption through the diet helps control the problem.
• Calcium and Magnesium supplements are frequently used by athletes on steroids since they help promote bone density, a critical factor considering the abuse that bones undergo through heavy training.
• Athletes have found that extra supplementation with Vitamin B-complex helps minimize against some side effects such as headaches and hair loss.

The subject of anabolic steroids is really so immense that no article regardless of size would do justice to it. I could probably discuss many more aspects of steroid use but I decided to summarize with one important point regarding the above: I do not recommend their use. I have worked with enough individuals who have achieved significant gains without resorting to steroids to assure you that there is no need for them. However, I understand the psychology of the users. I have been in the sports world long enough to know the pressure, and for those of you that have decided to follow the steroid route, I would at least suggest one thing: Educate yourselves on the facts. Learn as much as you can from knowledgeable sources. There are at least ten books on the use of steroids that I am aware of, not to mention the number of experienced users who could probably give you a few tips. So play it smart and play it safe!