Anabolic steroids: A review of the literature

The use of anabolic steroids by athletes is controversial. On the one hand, many athletes believe that steroids improve athletic performance and thus provide an advantage to those who use them. On the other hand, the medical and scientific communities believe that inadequate scientific data exist to support the claim that anabolic steroids can improve athletic performance while overwhelming scientific data demonstrate their deleterious effects. Therefore, a large information and credibility gap concerning anabolic steroids exists between the athletes and the medical and scientific communities. We believe that this gap can be closed if both groups are better informed about anabolic steroids. We provide a detailed review of the literature on anabolic steroids that provides to the reader the information needed to make an informed decision on the relative risks and benefits of anabolic steroids to the athlete.

[1]  Pamela Zurer,et al.  Drugs in Sports , 1984 .

[2]  D R Lamb,et al.  Anabolic steroids in athletics: How well do they work and how dangerous are they? , 1984, The American journal of sports medicine.

[3]  G. Finerman,et al.  Side Effects of Anabolic Steroids in Weight-Trained Men. , 1983, The Physician and sportsmedicine.

[4]  G. Peake,et al.  Effects of androgenic-anabolic steroids on neuromuscular power and body composition. , 1983, Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology.

[5]  G. Finerman,et al.  ANABOLIC STEROID USE AND HEALTH STATUS AMONG FORTY-TWO WEIGHT-TRAINED MALE ATHLETES , 1982 .

[6]  Lucking Mt.  Steroid hormones in sports. Special reference: sex hormones and their derivatives. , 1982 .

[7]  M. T. Lucking.  Steroid Hormones in Sports , 1982 .

[8]  Ryan Aj.  Anabolic steroids are fool's gold. , 1981 .

[9]  G. Mariani,et al.  Effect of anabolic treatment on the serum levels of gonadotropins, testosterone, prolactin, thyroid hormones and myoglobin of male athletes under physical training. , 1981, The Journal of nuclear medicine and allied sciences.

[10]  A. Sargeant,et al.  Measurement of Maximal Short-Term (Anaerobic) Power Output during Cycling , 1981 .

[11]  H. Appell,et al.  Structural Alterations of Liver Parenchyma Induced by Anabolic Steroids* , 1981, International journal of sports medicine.

[12]  D. Morgan,et al.  Effects of methandienone on the performance and body composition of men undergoing athletic training. , 1981, Clinical science.

[13]  Arblaster Ci,et al.  Drugs in sport: the extent of the problem, toxic effects, and control. , 1981, Australian family physician.

[14]  J. Wilson,et al.  The use and misuse of androgens. , 1980, Metabolism: clinical and experimental.

[15]  D. Lamb.  Anabolic Steroids and Strength and Power Related Athletic Events. , 1980 .

[16]  K. Ishak,et al.  HEPATIC ANGIOSARCOMA ASSOCIATED WITH ANDROGENIC-ANABOLIC STEROIDS , 1979, The Lancet.

[17]  V. Rogozkin.  Anabolic steroid metabolism in skeletal muscle. , 1979, Journal of steroid biochemistry.

[18]  R. Hampl,et al.  Practical aspects of screening of anabolic steroids in doping control with particular accent to nortestosterone radioimmunoassay using mixed antisera. , 1979, Journal of steroid biochemistry.

[19]  M. Wheeler,et al.  Detection of anabolic steroid administration to athletes. , 1979, Journal of steroid biochemistry.

[20]  P. Anthony,et al.  Spontaneous rupture of a liver cell adenoma after long term Methyltestosterone: Report of a case successfully treated by emergency right hepatic lobectomy , 1979, The British journal of surgery.

[21]  K. Ishak,et al.  Anabolic steroid therapy and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma , 1979, Cancer.

[22]  C. Speicher,et al.  Peliosis hepatis associated with administration of oxymetholone. , 1978, JAMA.

[23]  R. Shephard,et al.  Responses to sustained use of anabolic steroid. , 1977, British journal of sports medicine.

[24]  M. Bertrand,et al.  Radioimmunoassay of anabolic steroids: an evaluation of three antisera for the detection of anabolic steroids in biological fluids. , 1977, British journal of sports medicine.

[25]  Sale Ge,et al.  Multiple tumors after androgen therapy. , 1977 .

[26]  H. Adlercreutz,et al.  Effect of short-term treatment with an anabolic steroid (methandienone) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate on plasma hormones, red cell volume and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in athletes. , 1977, Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation.

[27]  B. Ruebner,et al.  Multiple hepatic tumors and peliosis hepatis in Fanconi's anemia treated with androgens. , 1977, American journal of diseases of children.

[28]  G. Mark,et al.  Multiple hepatic adenomas and a hepatocellular carcinoma in a man on oral methyl testosterone for eleven years , 1977, Cancer.

[29]  C. Rozman,et al.  Benign liver‐cell adenoma associated with long‐term administration of an androgenic‐anabolic steroid (methandienone) , 1977, Cancer.

[30]  Loughton Sj,et al.  Human strength and endurance responses to anabolic steroid and training. , 1977 .

[31]  I. Murray-Lyon,et al.  LIVER DAMAGE FROM LONG-TERM METHYLTESTOSTERONE , 1977, The Lancet.

[32]  I. Murray-Lyon,et al.  Hyperplasia and prolapse of hepatocytes into hepatic veins during longterm methyltestosteronetherapy: possible relationships of these changes to the development of peliosis hepatis and liver tumours , 1977, Histopathology.

[33]  Hathaway We,et al.  Fulminant hepatic neoplasia after androgen therapy. , 1977 .

[34]  M. Goodman,et al.  HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN ASSOCIATION WITH ANDROGEN THERAPY , 1977, The Medical journal of Australia.

[35]  P. Holma.  Effects of an anabolic steroid (metandienone) on spermatogenesis. , 1977, Contraception.

[36]  G. Hervey,et al.  "ANABOLIC" EFFECTS OF METHANDIENONE IN MEN UNDERGOING ATHLETIC TRAINING , 1976, The Lancet.

[37]  Wigger Hj,et al.  Peliosis hepatis in a child. , 1976 .

[38]  S. E. Levin,et al.  Occurrence of primary hepatocellular cancer and peliosis hepatis after treatment with androgenic steroids. , 1976, South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde.

[39]  D. Evans,et al.  Hepatic lesions in patients treated with synthetic anabolic steriods. , 1976, Journal of clinical pathology.

[40]  S. Goldfarb,et al.  Sex hormones and hepatic neoplasia. , 1976, Cancer research.

[41]  A. Tahmindjis,et al.  THE USE OF ANABOLIC STEROIDS BY ATHLETES TO INCREASE BODY WEIGHT AND STRENGTH , 1976, The Medical journal of Australia.

[42]  J. Pinkhas,et al.  [Focal nodular hyperplasia and spontaneous hepatic rupture in aplastic anemia treated with oxymetholone]. , 1976, Harefuah.

[43]  W. Walker,et al.  Liver Nodules and Androgens , 1976, The Lancet.

[44]  Farrell Gc.  Fanconi's familial hypoplastic anaemia with some unusual features. , 1976 .

[45]  F. Hagerman,et al.  The effects of anabolic steroid ingestion on serum enzyme and urine 17-ketosteroid levels. , 1975, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.

[46]  T. Radaszkiewicz,et al.  [Peliosis hepatis, complicating treatment with anabolic steroids (author's transl)]. , 1975, Medizinische Klinik.

[47]  P. Tomasulo,et al.  Multiple neoplasms in two siblings with a variant form of Fanconi's anemia , 1975, Cancer.

[48]  M. Win-May,et al.  The effect of anabolic steroids on physical fitness. , 1975, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.

[49]  R. A. Harkness,et al.  THE EFFECTS OF LARGE DOSES OF THE ANABOLIC STEROID, METHANDROSTENOLONE, ON AN ATHLETE , 1975, Clinical endocrinology.

[50]  L. Holder,et al.  Hepatoma associated with anabolic steroid therapy. , 1975, The American journal of roentgenology, radium therapy, and nuclear medicine.

[51]  G. Hervey,et al.  Are athletes wrong about anabolic steroids? , 1975, British journal of sports medicine.

[52]  J. Mulvihill,et al.  Hepatic adenoma in Fanconi anemia treated with oxymetholone. , 1975, The Journal of pediatrics.

[53]  Professor V. Wynn.  Metabolic effects of anabolic steroids. , 1975, British journal of sports medicine.

[54]  M. Bruguera,et al.  HEPATOMA ASSOCIATED WITH ANDROGENIC STEROIDS , 1975, The Lancet.

[55]  Johnson Fl.  Hepatoma associated with androgenic steroids. (Letter) , 1975 .

[56]  A. Banks,et al.  Anabolic steroids in athelics: crossover double-blind trial on weightlifters. , 1975, British medical journal.

[57]  H. Kronenberg,et al.  ANDROGEN-INDUCED HEPATOMA , 1975, The Lancet.

[58]  J. R. Moritz,et al.  Changing Patterns in Ski Injuries. , 1974, The Physician and sportsmedicine.

[59]  J. Boyer,et al.  Peliosis Hepatis Associated with Androgenic-Anabolic Steroid Therapy: A Severe Form of Hepatic Injury , 1974 .

[60]  M. Mcelmurry.  Goodale's Clinical Interpretation of Laboratory Tests , 1974 .

[61]  S. Strømme,et al.  The effect of mesterolone administration to normal men on the pituitary-testicular function. , 1974, Acta endocrinologica.

[62]  B. Stamford,et al.  Anabolic steroid: effectiveness as an ergogenic aid to experienced weight trainers. , 1974, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.

[63]  G. Ariel.  Residual effect of an anabolic steroid upon isotonic muscular force. , 1974, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.

[64]  G. Brittinger,et al.  Letter: Peliosis hepatis after long-term administration of oxymetholone. , 1974, Lancet.

[65]  G. Ariel.  The effect of anabolic steroid upon skeletal muscle contractile force. , 1973, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.

[66]  M. Sumerling,et al.  Androgenic-anabolic steroid therapy and hepatocellular carcinoma. , 1973, Lancet.

[67]  F. Naeim,et al.  Peliosis hepatis. Possible etiologic role of anabolic steroids. , 1973, Archives of pathology.

[68]  R. Carabasi,et al.  Androgens and hepatocellular carcinoma. , 1973, Lancet.

[69]  M. Auslander,et al.  Androgenic steroids and hepatocellular carcinoma. , 1973, Lancet.

[70]  P. Majerus,et al.  Association of androgenic-anabolic steroid therapy with development of hepatocellular carcinoma. , 1972, Lancet.

[71]  N. Wade.  Anabolic Steroids: Doctors Denounce Them, but Athletes Aren't Listening. , 1972, Science.

[72]  G. Ariel,et al.  Anabolic steroids: the physiological effects of placebos , 1972 .

[73]  K. Ranniger,et al.  Angiographic demonstration of hepatoma in association with Fanconi's anemia. , 1971, The American journal of roentgenology, radium therapy, and nuclear medicine.

[74]  B. Carlson,et al.  Anabolic steroid effects on body composition in normal young men. , 1971, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.

[75]  R. Hunter,et al.  Hepatoma and peliosis hepatis developing in a patient with Fanconi's anemia. , 1971, The New England journal of medicine.

[76]  A. McGiven.  Peliosis hepatis: Case report and review of pathogenesis , 1970, The Journal of pathology.

[77]  J. P. O'shea,et al.  Anabolic Steroid: Effects on Strength Development , 1969, Science.

[78]  G. Bullock,et al.  The effects of catabolic and anabolic steroids on amino acid incorporation by skeletal-muscle ribosomes. , 1968, The Biochemical journal.

[79]  G. Egstrom,et al.  Effect of an anabolic steroid on physical performance of young men. , 1965, Journal of applied physiology.

[80]  M. Yanoff,et al.  PELIOSIS HEPATIS. AN ANATOMIC STUDY WITH DEMONSTRATION OF TWO VARIETIES. , 1964, Archives of pathology.

[81]  G. O. Potts,et al.  Synthetic anabolic steroids in geriatrics. , 1963, Medical times.

[82]  J. Silny,et al.  Peliosis hepatis after administration of fluoxymesterone. , 1960, Canadian Medical Association journal.

[83]  F. Shai,et al.  Peliosis hepatis and cholestasis following administration of norethandrolone. , 1960, American journal of clinical pathology.

[84]  G. O. Potts,et al.  Andro-stanazole, A New Orally Active Anabolic Steroid , 1959, Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

[85]  R. Burger,et al.  Peliosis hepatis; report of case. , 1952, American journal of clinical pathology.

[86]  A. Keys,et al.  Influence of Methyl Testosterone on Muscular Work and Creatine Metabolism in Normal Young Men1 , 1942 .

[87]  U. Singh,et al.  Androgens and hepatocellular carcinoma in an athlete. , 1984, Annals of internal medicine.

[88]  D. Kwong,et al.  Pulsed laser heating of silicon: The coupling of optical absorption and thermal conduction during irradiation , 1983 .

[89]  V. Rogozkin.  Metabolic effects of anabolic steroid on skeletal muscle. , 1979, Medicine and science in sports.

[90]  S. Mokrohisky,et al.  Fulminant hepatic neoplasia after androgen therapy. , 1977, The New England journal of medicine.

[91]  G. Sale,et al.  Multiple tumors after androgen therapy. , 1977, Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine.

[92]  R. O. Ruhling,et al.  Human strength and endurance responses to anabolic steroid and training. , 1977, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.

[93]  D. Lamb.  Androgens and exercise. , 1975, Medicine and science in sports.

[94]  A. G. Fisher,et al.  Effect of anabolic steroid treatment on endurance. , 1975, Medicine and science in sports.

[95]  L. Goodman,et al.  The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Fifth Edition , 1975 .

[96]  Johnson Lc,et al.  Effect of anabolic steroid treatment on endurance. , 1975 .

[97]  A. Meadows,et al.  Hepatoma associated with androgen therapy for aplastic anemia. , 1974, The Journal of pediatrics.

[98]  S. Strømme,et al.  Effects of an androgenic-anabolic steroid on strength development and plasma testosterone levels in normal males. , 1974, Medicine and science in sports.

[99]  P. Ward.  The effect of an anabolic steroid on strength and lean body mass. , 1973, Medicine and science in sports.

[100]  T. Fahey,et al.  The effects of an anabolic steroid on the strength, body composition, and endurance of college males when accompanied by a weight training program. , 1973, Medicine and science in sports.

[101]  R. H. Goodale,et al.  Goodale's clinical interpretation of laboratory tests , 1973 .

[102]  G. Fisher,et al.  Anabolic steroid: effects on strength, body weight, oxygen uptake and spermatogenesis upon mature males. , 1972, Medicine and science in sports.

[103]  J. P. O'shea.  The effects of an anabolic steroid on dynamic strength levels of weightlifters. , 1971 .

[104]  I. Celejowa,et al.  Food intake, nitrogen and energy balance in Polish weight lifters, during a training camp. , 1970, Nutrition and metabolism.

[105]  J. P. O'shea.  Anabolic steroid: effects on competitive swimmers. , 1970 .

[106]  G. Beathard,et al.  A unique case of peliosis hepatis. , 1969, Texas reports on biology and medicine.