Physiological responses to resistance-exercise in athletes self-administering anabolic steroids

Endocrine and metabolic responses to resistance exercise were compared in 5 athletes self-administering (SL) anabolic steroids and 8 athletes (L) not using these compounds. Exercise consisted of 5 sets of 10 repetitions in the squat and quarter squat. Blood samples were collected before (pre) and immediately after (post) exercise, and following 30 minutes of recovery (post-30). Except for significantly lower lactate concentrations in SL (p less than 0.015) at post-30, the responses to exercise and recovery were similar in both groups. Significantly higher hematocrits (p less than 0.0001), total androgen concentrations (p less than 0.0001), and androgen/cortisol ratios (p less than 0.0001) were observed in the SL group across all time periods. Plasma androgen concentrations increased about 22% in SL following exercise, even though plasma LH concentrations were significantly lower (p less than 0.0001) than in L. Plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations were not significantly affected. Both groups displayed similar endocrine and metabolic responses to an acute bout of resistance exercise. The higher androgen/cortisol ratios and lower plasma lactate concentrations during recovery are two potential factors which may help explain the lower subjective level of fatigue following training sessions often reported by individuals who use anabolic steroids.