THE EFFECTS OF ANABOLIC-ANDROGENIC STEROIDS TO THE MUSCLE GROWTH

DISCUSSION
The use of Anabolic-Androgenic steroids has been a trend for the past 50 years. It became a sort
of muscular body enhancement for bodybuilders who compete in Mr. Olympia, International
Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBF) and other muscle competitions around the world in
the 60s. Ever since the popularity of bodybuilding sprouted in Europe and America and more men
got caught up in the hype of creating a better image of themselves, steroids then have not been
introduced as a commercial drug open for public. Steroids were then used in certain medical
processes for patients with deficiency in testosterone. It is exclusive for medial use and can be
purchased only under the prescription of a medical doctor. Bodybuilders then became more
interested in going to gym, working out, and gaining muscles naturally than injecting substances
into their body to help them acquire massive muscle tone. Until there came some sort of a
paradigm shift when certain drug became commercial and studies helped better the
understanding of the benefits of steroids. Industrial pharmaceuticals begun researches and
created the Anabolic steroid. Anabolic steroids are synthetic drugs formulated for the building of
muscles and prolonging endurance and performance for bodybuilders and athletes.
With a wider knowledge of the synthetic drug, athletes and bodybuilders begun to engage to
injections of Anabolic steroids to enlarge their muscles to its full extent, and to enhance
performance and muscle endurance to athletes. Over the past decades, steroid use became a
hot issue when the government from different countries banned the use of this synthetic drug in
school for athletes and international competitions like Olympics, FIFA, and boxing. In an article
written by Robert Kusma in (1996), he said that the beautiful body is the accepted way of life, and
in some point, peer, cliques, and school groups are pressuring adolescents. Anabolic steroids are
synthetic laboratory produce drug that makes an individual bigger, faster, and stronger. However,
Kusma said that telling students about the drug is useless for these youth know better unless you
would tell them the adverse effects as well. Almost anyone can build their muscles and make
them more defined through exercise and diet (Larsen. 2013). But how big a persons muscles can
grow naturally is determined by genetics, she adds. People nowadays believe that working out is
not enough to get buffed but with the help of supplements, it would be a lot easier to have bigger
body. Most men and women dont settle for less but instead go to enormous lengths, to look at
their best when in company of other individuals. As cited in Peters and Phelps in (2001), steroid
use appeared to exacerbate the idealistic expectations. In a study of Blouin and Goldfield (1995),
a comparison between male bodybuilders who had used anabolic steroids to other athletes who

had not used anabolic steroids reported that bodybuilders were at higher risk for body image
dissatisfaction and distortion.
According to an article written by ELIZABETH FOY LARSEN (2013), how big a muscle can grow
naturally is determined by genes but almost anyone can make a more defined muscles through
exercise and diet. In a study by Dr. Harrison Pope, an author and professor at Harvard Medical
School, says that majority of the people we see in dietary supplement and muscle fitness
endorsements

are taking steroids. Pope also emphasizes the black markets availability of

anabolic steroids has made new standards of bodies that show unrealistic high bar for
attractiveness. The study shows that the unrealistic standards for the body can cause
psychological illness known as dysmorphic disorder in teens. Adolescents would have the
thinking that no matter how much they exercise and workout, they would always feel not satisfied
because of the brainwashing concepts introduced by media of bodies that are unnatural. Larsen
emphasized in her writing that taking steroids is not only harmful but also a form of cheating.
Excessive weight liftingeven without supplements or steroidscan also be dangerous. Doctors
don't recommend weight lining to boys younger than 14. For those old enough to weight lift, it's
important to work out under the supervision of a qualified trainer, Larsen adds. The synthetic
forms of testosterone, along with the pure, human-derived form, are banned in professional
sports as stated in her study.
Larsen, E. (2013). Anabolic steroids are deadlyand illegal. One teen's story shows how the
pressure for bigger muscles can lead to tragedy. Scholastic Choices. Pages 4-9
According to the study of Blouin and Goldfield (1994), male bodybuilders who exhibit a profile of
body-related attitudes and psychological characteristics similar to those commonly seen among
eating disorder patients and associated with anabolic steroid use. These body builders are at
higher risk of developing abnormal eating binging, purging, and restricting food in reference to the
Bulimia scale of the EDI. In addition the abnormal eating habits, bodybuilders reported
perfectionism, feelings of ineffectiveness, low interceptive awareness, and low self-esteem, the
proponents say. Based on self-reports of Blouin and Goldfield (1994), 44.2% of the

bodybuilders used steroids compared to 2.1% of the runners and none of the martial
artists, rates lower than the 72% steroid use in the Loosemore and Moriarty (1990) study. The
results of Blouin and Goldfield study do suggest that there is at least one identified subgroup of
male bodybuilders with psychological and behavioral characteristics similar to eating disorder
females. According to the present results, this group is at risk for developing high-risk behavioral
practices (notably steroid use, bulimic, and anorexic behavior) with an apparent purpose of
modifying their body in order to meet personal and/or societal expectations.

Blouin, A. & Goldfield, G. (1994). Body Image and Steroid Use in Male Bodybuilders. International
Journal of Eating Disorders. Vol. 18, No. 2,159-165 (1995)
In an article by Robert Kusma (1996), it was mentioned that the beautiful body is the accepted
way of life. Adolescents are somehow pressured by other factors particularly school groups to
engage in beautification of their body. The proponent mentioned that a physician in a U.S. team
used steroids on its athletes and noted that team members wanted to end their lives when they
saw the terrible side effects and abuses of steroid. In males, certain factors such as sexual
characteristics, puberty are affected by testosterone and androgens, which gives men deeper
voice, broader shoulders, muscles that grow heavier and increases libido, and without androgens,
organs for secretions and genitalia atrophy and cease function.

Androgenic steroids are

manufactured in the body naturally, while anabolic steroids are laboratory produced synthetic
testosterone. Side effects of abuses in Anabolic steroids compiled by National Academy of Sports
Medicine, leads to different devastating results namely: balding in males and females, yellowing
of the skin due to liver malfunction, irreversible hair growth, aggressive behaviour, anxiety, fever,
impotence, and certain complications like: cancer in the brain, kidney and prostate, formation of
gallstones, shrunken testicles, tendon injuries, menstrual irregularities, heart disease and
premature closing of the epiphysis line in youngsters.
Kusma, R. (1996). Student Steroid Abuse. The Education Digest. 61/7 66-68

An article by Katherine Hobson (2002) says that if women believed strength training was only for
the likes of Schwarzenegger wannabes, it would not be surprising the women also wanted too.
Lifting weights provide health benefits to women. Women burn many calories when they pump
iron because it increases energy-burning muscles than simply sitting on the couch. Since the
muscles take up less room than fat, one is likely to drop a size of two along with some pounds.
Hobson emphasizes that women have less muscle tissue and far less testosterone than men.
Osteoporosis, an illness that threatens 44 million people more commonly to women, can most
likely be starved off by weight lifting. Hobson adds that lifting weights has been shown to protect
against muscle loss prompted by the low-protein diets prescribed for proteins with kidney
diseases. On the other hand, weights can also be beneficial to women with fibromyalgia.

Hobson, K. (2002). The Stronger Sex. U.S. News & World Report. 132(16) 52-53.

According to Naylor and Garg (1996), the aim of this study is to examine the why of recreational
athletes use for taking supplements. Through pre-tested questionnaires ( 36 item selfadministered questionnaire, 15 item multiple choice, a ranking system and open-ended
questions) that are designed to be taken with isochoric duration, which is ten minutes, is prepared
and was used on seventy-five anonymous individuals. Burke and Read state, most studies
reporting the supplementation practices of athletes fail to provide the most relevant information:
the type of supplements used; the amounts taken; and most importantly, the rationale for their
use. Only three studies, as cited by the author, examined the beliefs concerning supplementation
namely: Neiman et al. which studied about elite marathon runners in America; Burke and Read
which studied about Olyimpic standard weight lifters and Barr which studied about female
athletes in American College.

No study has been done in the recreational body builders in

Australia or other counties in order to investigate the beliefs of the usage of the drug.
Questionnaires were administered to four local gyms in Whales. As a result, the knowledge about
nutrition on the athletes were found to be insufficient, due to their beliefs about the supplements
to be a misconception, some of which says that they will feel younger and become more healthier
with it. The results show that recreational athletes may indicate a need for education on the topic.
Naylor, A. & Manohar, G. (1996). A Pilot study to examine the reasons for taking dietary
supplements in recreational body builders in the Westlakes area. Australian Journal of Nutririon
and Dietetics. 53(3) 127-133.
In a study by Mark Anthony Peters and Leadelle Phelps (2001), an experiment in State University
of New York at Buffalo compared college bodybuilders by sex and steroid intake on to two
variables: body image dissatisfaction and body image distortion. Results revealed only a
significant effect for gender on body distortion. Further analyses indicated that female
bodybuilders were into both longing for more muscle bulk and thinner frame, while the males
were more into desiring more muscle mass. These results are compared to previous research
with non-bodybuilders wherein body image dissatisfaction was unidirectional for females yet
bidirectional for males (Wiley and Sons. 2001). Most men and women go to greater lengths
thinking they would look their best when in company with other people. Rodin (1992) advocated
that, because society places such a great emphasis on attractiveness, some young adults spend
as many hours preparing to look good as they do attending college classes or at their
employment site. Men often desire to be more muscular with well-developed chest and arm
muscles and wide shoulders tapering down to a narrow waist (Heinberg & Thompson, 1992;
Mishkind, Rodin, Silberstein, & Striegel-Moore, 1986). In a qualitative study, Klein (1986)
concluded that poor physical self-esteem led many body- builders to start working out in the
beginning and noted that a sizable proportion reported satisfaction with their bodies only after

months in the gym. The author emphasizes that the steroid use became an exaggeration of the
idealistic expectations. The ideal male body has undergone an evolutionary change. In a study of
Blouin and Goldfield (1995), a comparison between male bodybuilders who had used anabolic
steroids to other athletes who had not used anabolic steroids reported that bodybuilders were at
higher risk for body image dissatisfaction and distortion.
Peters, M.A., Phelps, L. (2001). Body image dissatisfaction and distortion, steroid use, and sex
differences in college age bodybuilders. Psychology in the Schools. 38(3) 283-289.

The study about the comparison of competitive bodybuilders, weight trainers, and athletes,
emphasizes that many of todays media images of muscularity are unattainable for most men
(Pickett, T.C., Lewis, R.J., Cash, T.F. 2005). In the study, it was reported that competitive
bodybuilders were heavier in body mass than were either non-competitive weight trainers or
athletically active controls. Both bodybuilders and weight trainers were more satisfied with their
upper torso and their bodys overall muscle tone than were active controls. Differences were seen
on participants satisfaction with specific aspects of the body. In comparison with the other two
groups, competitive body builders were more satisfied with their abdominal are. In his study, Pope
et al 40 found that nine of 108 bodybuildersthat is, about 8%met criteria for muscle
dysmorphia. The author emphasizes that although the highly muscular, competitive bodybuilders
in the study are still unsatisfied and wanting to be even more muscular. He said aspiration did not
diminish their body image satisfaction in other respects. On the same note, the findings were said
to be were more consistent with the conclusion of a better global body image and a more
favorable self-evaluation of body definition among body- builders. Pickett et al. points that future
research is crucial to distinguish those men for whom bodybuilding is a self enhancing activity
from those for whom it is a self perpetuating facet of excessive and dysphoric preoccupation with
the muscularity and adiposity of the body.
Pickett, T.C., Lewis, R.J., Cash, T.F. (2005). Men, muscles, and body image: comparisons of
competitive bodybuilders, weight trainers, and athletically active controls. British Journal of Sports
Medicine. 39 217-222.

INCLUDE: FIGURE OF ANABOLIC STEROID

An article that features Anabolic Steroid Misuse (2013), published by NHS Choices UK, states
that Anabolic steroids are manufactured drugs that mimic the effects of the male hormone
testosterone and they shouldnt be confused with corticosteroids, a different type of steroid drug
that's commonly prescribed for a variety of conditions. In Great Britain, steroids are taken

regularly by athletes, weightlifters, and bodybuilders to build their bodies and improve physical
activity. However,

people

of

all

ages

have

been

known

to

misuse

these

drugs,

including adolescent boys who suffer from body dysmorphiathe mindset of someone who thinks
his body doesnt match the way it looks. This makes teenage boys take drugs because they
believe they are not physically big enough. In most cases, anabolic steroids are injected into the
muscles, but they may also come in tablets that could be taken orally or creams that can be skin
deep alone. Like many other substances, the author declares that anabolic steroids are addictive.
This means one can crave the drug, require more to get the same effect and have withdrawal
symptoms if you suddenly stop taking them. In addition, the proponent professes that one should
consult for a General Physician if the thinks he is already addicted to steroids. It is said in the
study that treatment for anabolic steroids is similar to other types of addiction
(2013).

Anabolic

Steroid

Abuse.

NHS

Choices.

Retrieved

October

23,

2014,

from

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anabolic-steroid-abuse/Pages/Introduction.aspx
__________________________________________

Athletes are often users of steroid; its because of the power of the AAS to make someone
stronger. AAS are synthetic derivatives of the naturally produced hormone testosterone. But the
question is, how much AAS builds lean muscle mass? Once the drug is taken, AAS travels
through the blood stream then to the muscle tissue. It is drawn into the muscle cell and interacts
with the DNA and stimulates protein synthesis process that promotes cell growth. AAS also
blocks cortisol and thus produce sore muscles. On the other hand, anabolic steroids can also be
a benefit to pitchers and those who need a faster turnaround from sore, worn out muscles.
Peterson mentioned that intense exercise also releases cortisol, known as the stress hormone,
which breaks down muscle tissue, producing sore muscles. He also emphasizes that few hours of
lifting weights each week would be a lot better strength-building option.
Peterson, D. (2009). How Do Steroids Work? . LiveScience. Retrieved October 22, 2014, from
http://www.livescience.com/3349-steroids-work.html

An article about AAS presents that it had been used in the treatment of depression and other
mental disorder in the past. AAS use has been associated with self-reported changes in mood,
behavior and bodily perceptions. AAS may increase arousal, self-confidence and pain threshold.
This phenomena will lead to the expression of aggression at improper times in the absence of

enough external forces, internal discipline or social coping skills. Individuals using AAS have also
reported increased aggression and irritability. In a study by Wright et al (1986) it was found out
that the POMS did not confirm a difference of mood states between current AAS users and
former AAS users although both groups reported changes in enthusiasm, aggression, irritability,
insomnia, muscle size, and libido when using AAS. Althought, it has been argued that the main
subjectively perceived psychological and behavioral changes by AAS users are due to
expectancy, imitation or role modeling Psychological Effects of AAS.
(2014).

In

Exercise

Prescription

on

the

Net.

http://www.exrx.net/AnabolicSteroids/Psychological.html

Retrieved

October

22,

2014,

from

Structures of Anabolic-Androgenic steroids with corresponding diagnostic metabolites and

examples of registered trade names. Superscripts refer to 17B-hydroxyl-esterified preparation:
undecylenoate; acetate; propionate; heptanoate; decanoate; hexahydrobenzylcarbonate.

Chemistry and Structure of Anabolic and Androgenic Steroids

By Zack - MuscleTalk Pro-member
In an article by Zack - MuscleTalk Pro-member (2014), published by Muscle Tanks Article (, UK,
the general structure of steroids contain a variety of usefulness in the human body. Certain
factors that do not limit the control of steroids over the body are: fat storage, carbohydrate
metabolism, muscle growth, immune factor and nerve cell membrane chemistry. The divisions of
steroids fall under estrogens, progestogens, and catabolics but only androgens and anabolic
were considered in the study. Androgens exert some kind of masculinizing physical effect on the
body, while anabolic promote growth, the author says. On this statement, the said distinctions are
completely exclusive, like when testosterone is synthesized by the adrenal cortex as well as the
testes, and has both anabolic and androgenic properties. Steroids are fat-soluble hormones with
a tetracyclic base structure. Steroids are synthesized in the body from squalene, later cyclized to
form cholesterol, which is then hydroxylated and modified by the enzyme cytochrome P-450 into
Pregnenolone. Zack MuscleTalk (2014) emphasizes that all steroids function in a very similar way
at cellular and molecular level. It is stated in the article that once in the cytoplasm, the steroids
bind to receptors, which are composed of proteins. This forms what is known as a steroidreceptor complex. The complexes then undergo dimerization, where two complexes bind together
to form a dimer. The dimer will then travel to the nucleus of the cell and bind to DNA, where it
promotes gene transcription and translation, leading to the production of proteins. While the
author proclaims that steroid effects on gene expression and protein production are complicated
to understand, the effect of steroids on genes is determined by the type of cell, which it is present.
Zack MuscleTalk (2014). Chemistry and Structure of Anabolic and Androgenic Steroids. Muscle
Talk Article, UK.

Structures of Anabolic-Androgenic steroids with corresponding diagnostic metabolites and

examples of registered trade names. Superscripts refer to 17B-hydroxyl-esterified preparation:
undecylenoate; acetate; propionate; heptanoate; decanoate; hexahydrobenzylcarbonate.
Figure 2: Adverse effects from Anabolic Steroid Administration

In an organic chemistry book written by Brown and Poon (2014), it is written that anabolic steroids
are used in rehabilitation medicine, such when muscle deterioration occurs. And in some athletes,
misuse of AAS is done to gain muscle mass and strength. There are enormous, heightened
aggressive, infertility, impotence & even premature diabetes, coronary artery disease & cancer.
Steroids, as stated by Bloch and Lynen, is derived from acetyl group of acetyl-COA where 15/27
C of cholesterol are from the methyl group of acetyl-COA and 12/27 C are from the carbonyl
group of acetyl-COA.. From acetyl coenzyme A to (R) mevalonate to Isopentyl pyrophosphate
to Geranyl pyrophosphate to Farnesyl Pyrophosphate to Squalene to Cholesterol then to
Steroids. Cholesterol is highly stereoselective it is only one of the 256 possible stereoisomers.
Brown, W. & Poon, T. (2014). Introduction to Organic Chemistry 5 th Edition. John Wiley & Sons
INC. New Jersey. Pp 658 - 662

In the comprehensible study conducted by A T Kicman (2008) Pharmacology of Anabolic

Steroids, the behavioural effects of androgens/anabolic steroids in men and women, including
those concerning sexual behaviour, cognitive abilities, aggression and mood, have been reviewed
by Lukas (1996), Christiansen (2001, 2004) and Kuhn (2002) and are also discussed in the
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Research Monographs (Katz and Pope, 1990; Svare,
1990; Yesalis et al., 1990). Androgens are critical to the human male sexual behaviour and they
can also enhance female sexual desire and arousal. Kicman emphasizes that testosterone
appears to play an important role in cognitive functioning, such as attention and alertness,
memory and spatial skills, although based on the conclusions of a limited number of studies. In
mood, it is said that positive correlations of endogenous androgen concentrations with a sense of
well-being and joyfulness, while negative correlations include depression and anxiety. Anabolic
steroid use give rise to major mood syndromes like hypomania during exposure and depressive
symptoms during steroid withdrawal (Pope and Katz, 1994).
Kicman, A.T. (2008). Pharmacology of Anabolic Steroids. British Journal of Pharmacology. 154(3)
502-521

These are the effects of Anabolic steroid abuse to other sections of the body tabulated with
reference to specific body part aside from the muscles. The table shows the adverse results when
the synthetic drug is abused through excessive dosage misused as substitute medication.
HELPFUL : http://www.steroidabuse.com/side-effects-of-steroids.html

Figure 3: Figure Rating Scale for Body Image Distortion

ThefigureratingscalewasusedinthestudyofPetersandPhelps(2001)toassessbodyimagedissatisfaction
andbodyimagedistortion.Itcontained9figuredrawingsofeachsexarrangedfromthin(1)toaverymuscular
(9)shape(seeFigure1).
Thevariationsindrawingswereintendedtoreflectchangesinmusculardevelopment.
ParticipantswereaskedtoratetheircurrentbodyimagebyputtinganXonthesilhouettedrawingthatbest
represented her or his current status. Participants were then asked to place an O on the figure that best
representedherorhisidealimage.
Itwasfoundoutthatthereisanimportantgenderdifferencebetweenmaleandfemalebodybuildersinbody
imagedistortion.

Effects of Long Term Supplementation of Anabolic Androgen Steroids on Human Skeletal Muscle
(Yu J-G, Bonnerud P, Eriksson A, Sta l PS, Tegner Y, et al. 2014). The study conducted by the
proponent composed of seventeen strength training athletes were recruited and individually
interviewed regarding self- administration of banned substances. There were 10 subjects who
admitted to have taken AAS derivatives from the past 5 15 years and were classified as Doped.
On the other hand, the remaining 7 subjects were reported to have never been in use of any
prohibited substances and were classified as Clean. The study states that compared with the
Clean athletes, the Doped athletes had significantly higher lean leg mass, capillary per fiber and
myonuclei per fiber. However, Doped athletes had significant lower absolute value in maximal
squat force and relative values in maximal squat force. Yu et al. concluded long term AAS
supplementation has led to increase lean leg mass, muscle fiber size and a parallel improvement
in muscle strength, and all were dose- dependent.