Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2025
05:55
Author Spotlight: Developing a Rat Model for Weight-Bearing Intervention to Investigate Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head
Published on: September 27, 2024
622
Anabolic-androgenic steroids: How do they work and what are the risks?
Peter Bond1, Diederik L Smit2, Willem de Ronde3
1PeterBond.org, Zeist, Netherlands.
Frontiers in Endocrinology
|January 16, 2023
Summary
Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are potent hormones abused for muscle growth. This review details AAS mechanisms, absorption, and severe health risks like cardiovascular damage and hormonal imbalances.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are frequently abused for performance enhancement.
- Non-therapeutic dosages pose significant health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of AAS mechanisms of action.
- To detail the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of AAS.
- To elucidate the diverse side effects associated with AAS abuse.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current research on AAS.
- Analysis of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of AAS.
- Compilation of reported adverse health effects and management strategies.
Main Results:
- AAS are absorbed via injection or oral routes, transported in circulation, and enter target cells.
- Intracellularly, AAS can be metabolized or bind to the androgen receptor.
- Common side effects include acne, hypertension, liver damage, dyslipidemia, hypogonadism, and cardiomyopathy.
Conclusions:
- AAS use is associated with a wide spectrum of adverse health outcomes.
- Understanding AAS pharmacology is crucial for clinicians managing users.
- Management strategies for AAS-induced side effects are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Regulation of Metabolism
9.6K
Cellular needs and conditions vary from cell to cell and change within individual cells over time. For example, the required enzymes and energetic demands of stomach cells are different from those of fat storage cells, skin cells, blood cells, and nerve cells. Furthermore, a digestive cell works much harder to process and break down nutrients during the time that closely follows a meal compared with many hours after a meal. As these cellular demands and conditions vary, so do the amounts and...
9.6K
00:52What is Metabolism?
116.5K
Overview
116.5K
01:27Major Hormones and Their Functions
612
Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and...
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and...
612
01:25Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity
1.3K
Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
1.3K
01:21Overview of Protein Metabolism
1.6K
Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
1.6K
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
603
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not...
603