Fitness Vices Series #4: What are the positives and negatives of anabolic steroids?

Since you like our fitness series about vices, we bring you the next part. This time we look at the issue of doping and especially anabolic steroids, a topic that is a constantincreasingly popular and, unfortunately, its abuse is becoming more common.

As in the previous parts of the series, we will try to capture not only the negative features but also the positive ones so that each of you can draw your own picture. So here we go.

What are anabolic androgenic steroids?

Although the previous vices did not need to be defined, in the case of anabolic androgenic steroids it is more than appropriate. Androgens refer to male sex hormones based on testosterone and its derivatives, the word "anabolic" is then used to specify that the substance has a marked anabolic action (i.e. that it improves protein synthesis).

Although there can be no substances that have no androgenic action, in some anabolics they are strongly suppressed.

A little about testosterone

Before we get into the actual positives and negatives of doping, we should take a closer look atthe workings of testosterone, which is undoubtedly the most important representative of anabolic steroids. It is a fat-soluble hormone, thanks to which it penetrates cell membranes relatively easily. In cells, it then binds to chromosomal sites in the nucleus, further enabling the formation of enzymes and building proteins.

Testosterone is converted by a specific enzyme into 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone, which has a better androgenic action compared to classical testosterone. The metabolism of this hormone occurs in the liver to the aforementioned DHT and androstenedione^[1].

Androgenic action of testosterone in points

• It stimulates the development of sexual characteristics in men
• At puberty, there is a change in pubic hair, the individual's psyche and musculature
• Together with follicle-stimulating hormone, it controls spermatogenesis ^[1]

Anabolic action of testosterone in points

• Promotes protein synthesis, thereby improving muscle growth

What are the negatives of anabolic steroids?

Although I would hate for you to get the impression after reading the next few lines that this is a classic doping-demonizing articlearticle, of which there are hundreds on competing sites, it is important to realize that there are some negatives to anabolic steroid abuse.

Among the most significant pathological effects of anabolics may (but not necessarily) include infertility, gynecomastia, myocardial damage, changes in blood volume and clotting, and fat metabolism disorders.^[2] Let's discuss the individual negatives in more detail below:

1. Infertility

Overuse of anabolic androgenic steroids can cause infertility disruption after some timem role of the hypothalamus-adenohypophysis-gonadal axis, while at the same time causing a decrease in spermatogenesis and shrinking (in extreme cases, atrophy) of the testes. ^[2]

However, this effect occurs only in extreme cases, and infertility is a rather isolated issue, occurring only in a relatively small percentage of anabolic users.

2. Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia in men occurs with anabolic steroid use either due to excessive conversion of testosterone to estrogen, the female "sex" hormone, or due to a disturbance in the balance between androgens and estrogens. Basically, it is an enlargement of the mammary gland, where the ducts become enlarged, elongated and branched^[2].

Kiro Markopulos, a popular Czech YouTuber and successful model, speaks highly of gynecomastia. So if you are more interested in this issue, definitely watch his very beneficial video:

3. Myocardial damage

Since anabolic steroids cause muscle hypertrophy, a side effect is the thickening of the myocardial walls. This has been noted specific examplesthat have found acute cellular necrosis and interstitial myocardial fibrosis in the body of a bodybuilder taking anabolics.

4. Changes in blood volume and clotting

Long-term abuse of anabolic steroids leads to water retention (extremely high water retention may indicate amisuse/poor diet/...), sodium and chlorine accumulate in the body.

Sodium is responsible for the increase in osmotic pressure and smooth muscle contractility. which, along with increased EPO production, results in higher cardiac demands. Read more scientific investigations have revealed only insignificant changes in variables that assess platelet aggregation. ^[2]

5. Fat metabolism disorders and liver disease

Since the liver is forced to cope with increased enzyme levels when anabolics are used, the importance ofThe result is an increase in triglycerides and LDL "unhealthy" cholesterol, while HDL "healthy" cholesterol decreases (some studies show a reduction of up to 52%). Fluctuations in these levels lead to increased stress on liver cells and increase the risk of vascular disease. ^[2]

It goes without saying that there would be many more negative effects, but these are the most significant of all. But if you would like to read the full article on this topic, be sure to let us knowt in the comments and we'll try to cover the negative effects more comprehensively.

What are the positives of anabolic steroids?

If anabolic steroids did not have positive effects, probably no one would abuse them. The main positives are, of course, the increase in muscle mass and the increase in strengthThere is also an increase in self-confidence and joint strengthening. We'll discuss all of this in more detail below.

1. Increase in muscle mass and strength

The increase in muscle mass and strength is of course related to the anabolic effects of doping. Thanks to better protein synthesis, the athlete's body is able to absorb more protein from the diet or supplements, workmuscles are able to use fat as an energy source better and recovery is of course also significantly better.

2. Increased self-confidence

When writing this article, I hesitated for quite a long time whether higher self-esteem and in general the effect of anabolics on the psychological side of an individual, to classify as positive or negative effects. These effects are due both to the physiological effect of testosterone and other anabolics themselves and to the improvement ofWhether it is an increase in muscle mass, greater strength, or just better blood flow, vascularity, etc.

3. Strengthening of joints

Some substances (such as nandrolone) are very often abused for their effect on joints. Specifically, nandrolone is a substance that is very good at increasing strength (ideally in combination with testosterone) and ensuring strong and healthy joints.

The use of nandrolone has been spoken highly of by the likes of Supertrainer, who is one of the few YouTubers to talk about both the positives and negatives of this steroid:

Are steroids necessary in strength sports?

This is a question that is not so easy to answer. On the one hand, it has to be said that without them in strength sports, it's hard to achieve extreme( whether in the form of lifted power or gained muscle volume). On the other hand, it is important to note that in my opinion they are not necessary in more than 95% of cases. Not even anabolics can change your genetics for the better. And if you simply don't have the genetic makeup for the sport, it's good to remember that you'll never be the best.

Another, and equally important, aspect is the length of time you can sustain training as a natural athlete. Just recently, I read on Ales Bursa's Instagram that he has been training for some 15 years, 12 of them naturally. How many of you can say that you have trained naturally for that long? I think very few. The longer you can train without anabolics, the better the results will be and even on a small amount of substances you can do a huge amount of work.

Can anabolics become addictive?

Almost every tabloid article that tries to useto denigrate anabolics as much as possible highlights the possibility of addiction. Our laws place anabolics side by side with drugs such as heroin. But while bodybuilders using anabolics and peptides are in most cases brimming vitality and health, I wouldn't say that about users of the latter group of substances. But back to the topic at hand.

Physical dependence can certainly not be associated with anabolic use. But psychological addiction is a bit more complicated. When you stop anabolics you lose that great recovery, the never ending pump up and your strength performance starts to drop a bit. And this is where the psyche of the athlete always takes a big hit. But then it depends on the individuality of each person and how they cope with the temporary situation.

So what is the conclusion?

When it comes to elite sport, doping is an inherent part of it.

In amateur sport, you should think very long and hard about its use, consideringconsider all the short- and long-term negative aspects and weigh them against the positive ones. Personally, I would recommend that you also consider consulting with someone more experienced to look at youconsult with you about your training methods and performance and assess whether you have any potential. If you don't have it, even anabolics won't help.

We could spend much more time on the topic of anabolic steroids, but then the article would be unreadable and unreadable for you. So if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments and those especiallyparticularly interesting ones can also serve as a topic for the next article.

More episodes from the Fitness Vices series:

• Fitness Vices Series #1: What Effect Does Alcohol Have on Exercise?
• Fitness Vices #2: What effect does marijuana have on exercise?
• Fitness Vices Series #3: What effect does smoking have on working out?
• Fitness Vices Series #4: What are the pros and cons of anabolic steroids?
• Fitness series on vices #5: To what extent is drinking coffee beneficial?
• Fitness series on vices #6: Why is an uncontrolled cheat day a fast track to the bottom?
• Fitness series on vices #7: What is the effect of energy drinks on health?
• Fitness series on vices #8: Can fat burners really help with weight loss?

Testimonials:

[1] PYŠNÝ, Ladislav. Doping, health, performance. Prague: Karolinum- Charles University Press, 1999. ISBN 80-7184-813-1.

[2] PYŠNÝ, Ladislav. Physiology and pathophysiology of doping. Prague: Charles University in Prague, 2002. ISBN 80-246-0529-5.