Key result
Anabolic steroid use in weightlifters is linked to ~17% greater left ventricular mass.
Why the study?
The cardiac effects of anabolic steroids in weight-lifters were not well characterized.
Does systematic abuse of androgenic anabolic steroids alter cardiac structure and function in adult weight-lifters?
Cross-Sectional (n=30)
Does systematic abuse of androgenic anabolic steroids alter cardiac structure and function in adult weight-lifters?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Anabolic steroid use in weight-lifters is associated with significant left ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation without altering resting systolic function.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiac effects of anabolic steroids in weight‐lifters. Thirty top‐level adult weight‐lifters were studied using physical examination, electrocardiography and m‐mode echocardiography. Fifteen athletes (group A) abused systematically androgenic anabolic steroids, while the rest (group B) had never used such drugs. Body weight, lean body mass and resting systolic blood pressure were found to be greater in group A than B. There were no differences in electrocardiographic findings between the two groups. Echocardiography data showed significant increases for athletes using anabolic steroids compared with others in left ventricular end‐diastolic volume (16%) and mass (17%) as well as in total LV volume (17%). These augmentations were in proportion to the increase in skeletal muscle mass. However, left ventricular systolic function indexes were similar in both groups. These data suggest that anabolic steroids cause left ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation in athletes performing static training.
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Deligiannis et al. (1993) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy weight-lifters (n=30). Androgenic anabolic steroids vs. No use of anabolic steroids was evaluated on Left ventricular end-diastolic volume and mass. Anabolic steroid use in weight-lifters was associated with significant increases in left ventricular end-diastolic volume and mass compared to non-users, with similar systolic function.
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