Athletes and bodybuilders relying on anabolic steroids for gaining muscle mass and strength may actually destroy their kidney function, as per a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, CA.

It was indicated by the finding that long-term and habitual use of anabolic steroids can lead to possible harmful effects on the kidneys, a fact that was recognized previously.

From Sciencedaily.com:

Reports of professional athletes who abuse anabolic steroids are increasingly common. Most people know that using steroids is not good for your health, but until now, their effects on the kidneys have not been known. Leal Herlitz, MD (Columbia University Medical Center) and her colleagues recently conducted the first study describing injury to the kidneys following long-term abuse of anabolic steroids. The investigators studied a group of 10 bodybuilders who used steroids for many years and developed protein leakage into the urine and severe reductions in kidney function. Kidney tests revealed that nine of the ten bodybuilders developed a condition called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a type of scarring within the kidneys. This disease typically occurs when the kidneys are overworked. The kidney damage in the bodybuilders has similarities to that seen in morbidly obese patients, but appears to be even more severe.

The study was conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Vivette D’Agati, MD at Columbia Univeristy Medical Center. Study co-authors include Glen Markowitz, MD, Joshua Schwimmer, MD, Michael Stokes, MD, Cheryl Kunis, MD, Vivette D’Agati, MD, (Columbia University Medical Center); Alton Farris, MD, and Robert Colvin, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital).

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Anabolic steroids have always encouraged bodybuilders and other sportsmen to go for them but the use of steroids is not free from side effects. According to a paper presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, CA, athletes using steroids may suffer from damage to kidney function.

This previously unrecognized complication may occur when steroids are used on a habitual basis.

From Sciencedaily.com:

Reports of professional athletes who abuse anabolic steroids are increasingly common. Most people know that using steroids is not good for your health, but until now, their effects on the kidneys have not been known. Leal Herlitz, MD (Columbia University Medical Center) and her colleagues recently conducted the first study describing injury to the kidneys following long-term abuse of anabolic steroids. The investigators studied a group of 10 bodybuilders who used steroids for many years and developed protein leakage into the urine and severe reductions in kidney function. Kidney tests revealed that nine of the ten bodybuilders developed a condition called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a type of scarring within the kidneys. This disease typically occurs when the kidneys are overworked. The kidney damage in the bodybuilders has similarities to that seen in morbidly obese patients, but appears to be even more severe.

This study was conducted in the lab of Dr. Vivette D’Agati, MD at Columbia Univeristy Medical Center. Study co-authors included Glen Markowitz, MD, Joshua Schwimmer, MD, Michael Stokes, MD, Cheryl Kunis, MD, Vivette D’Agati, MD, (Columbia University Medical Center); Alton Farris, MD, and Robert Colvin, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital).

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Other bodybuilders have turned to steroids to make their muscles bulge. However, for Tennille Ray, maintaining her sculpted arms, 12-pack abs and muscled legs is a full-time job.

Ray is a professional figure bodybuilder. She won her first title as Miss Universe in the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF) competition held at Barbados earlier this year.

Although she is a bodybuilder, Ray is still expected to remain curvy and feminine. Ray has been a personal trainer since 2001 in New York. However, she did not ever consider a career in bodybuilding until a friend suggested it to her in a gym.

According to Charlie Carollo, vice president of the WNBF, Ray is very disciplined and very fortunate to have God-given genetics.

Asked how she got into really good shape, Ray only gives out five proven ways. First is portion control when it comes to food; do not fear weights; always maintain discipline, the best way to get into shape is by doing basic exercises and never forget to drink water.

Ray has never mentioned resorting to steroids as a way to get into shape. The WNBF bans controlled substances and drug tests, and gives polygraph tests before each show to combat drug use.

According to Associated Press:

Ray is often asked by strangers on the street how she got so fit.

“You don’t have to go as extreme as me to be fit,” she said. “You still feel good and successful just working toward your own goals.”

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According to results of a survey disclosed at the 52nd American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn., more and more people are taking steroids to improve their physical appearance. It was found during the study that even though people are aware of side-effects of steroids in case a steroid abuse, the ill effects do not seem to deter them while making further usage.

Steroids have been used by sportsmen to improve their performance on the field. The fact that they are also helpful in building lean muscle mass and reducing the associated fatigue levels with strenuous exercises is also encouraging sportsmen to take steroids to gain advantage and deliver dramatic performance on a consistent basis.

From News-Medical.Net:

Of the 500 AAS users who participated in the survey, 78.4 percent (392/500) were non-competitive bodybuilders and non-athletes. Nearly 60 percent (298/500) reported using at least 1000mg of testosterone or its equivalent per week. The majority (99.2 percent or 496/500) of AAS users self-administer their injections, and up to 13 percent (65/500) report unsafe injection practices, such as re-using needles, sharing needles, and sharing multi-dose vials. In addition to using AAS, 25 percent of users admitted to also using growth hormone and insulin for anabolic effect. Finally, 99.2 percent (496/500) of users reported subjective side effects from AAS use.

“Clearly, the alarm is not ringing for the users who responded to our survey,” said Nick A. Evans, M.D., lead author for the study and physician at UCLA-Orthopaedic Hospital, Los Angeles. “They are not sensing or seeing the extremely dangerous game they are playing with these drugs. There are severe health risks associated with steroid use and abuse, but four out of five of our respondents report a greater desire to improve their physical appearance than to protect their health. Creating awareness among influencers like parents, coaches, trainers and health professionals may be a way to reach users and help them guide them back to safe health and fitness habits.”

From the above points, it can be easily concluded that steroid users still need quality information on how to make the best use of steroids. It is important to note here that steroids in sports and professional events are not harmful in any way when they are used after advice from a qualified medical practitioner. The only way that steroids can be dangerous is when users decide to make them dangerous by using them without proper knowledge.

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According to a new research by the Duke University Medical Center researchers in the United States, forskolin that is an herbal extract and can be purchased over the counter has the unique ability to reduce and even eliminate urinary tract infections. It has also proved itself in enhancing effects of the antibiotics that are used to treat such infections.

Indian coleus plant, Forskolin, proves to be highly effective in preventing urinary tract infections in the bladder recurring even after an antibiotic treatment.

Forskolin that is often used in bodybuilding products and admired for its ability to increase lean body and bone mass is an exceptional companion for bodybuilders when it comes to increasing the levels of testosterone.

From News-Medical.Net:

For the research the mice had Forskolin injected directly into the bladder or administered intravenously; the herb appeared to expel more than 75 percent of the hiding E. coli and it now remains for the team to establish whether or not the herb is effective when mice receive it orally as that is how it would be used in humans.

The experiments also will combine the use of Forskolin and antibiotics.

Abraham says the treatment strategy may provide a much needed new and effective approach for treating urinary tract infections, because constant antibiotic use has many drawbacks, including expense, possible liver and kidney damage and the potential for creating strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The research is published in the current issue of the journal Nature Medicine and was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Lead researcher microbiologist Dr. Soman Abraham said that this herb has already been in use in Asia for treatment of painful urination.

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In a survey done by the charity DrugScope, it was found that abusing steroids or performance enhancing drugs was a main problem in almost 10 out of 20 town and cities it surveyed. Experts said that more and more young men were turning towards anabolic steroids for increasing self-confidence and improving body shape.

The use of drugs is mainly associated with sportsmen, especially with athletes and bodybuilders. But in the survey, evidence of widespread use of drugs, just for purely aesthetic reasons, by young professionals, building-site workers and students was discovered. The charity warned that youths saw drugs as an easy way to attain that muscled, toned physique. It also said that supply of class C drug, a human growth hormone, is illegal, but its possession was under law.

“The rise in the number of young men misusing steroids is extremely worrying and seems to be in response to a growing obsession with the ideal body image. There are serious risks associated with steroid misuse, but people may ignore the dangers or not seek help because they do not consider themselves drug users, said Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope.

From BBC:

The use of anabolic steroids is becoming mainstream as young men turn to the drugs to boost self-confidence and improve body image, experts warn.

The charity DrugScope found steroid abuse was a significant problem in 11 out of 20 towns and cities it surveyed.

The drugs have traditionally been used by elite athletes and bodybuilders.

But DrugScope found evidence of widespread use by young professionals, building-site workers and students for purely aesthetic reasons.

Young people see the drugs as an easy way to achieve a muscled, toned physique, the charity warned.

Supply of the Class C drug, a human growth hormone, is illegal, but possession is not.

Side effects of steroid misuse in men include reduced sperm count, kidney and liver problems, high blood pressure and increased aggression.

The DrugScope survey also found an increase in the use of heroin and crack cocaine simultaneously. This usage practice is known as “speedballing,” and is so common in south London that the combined substances are treated similar to a drug in its own right.

The various side effects of steroids misuse include reduced sperm count, high blood pressure, increased aggression and kidney and liver problems. Risk of occurrence of HIV and hepatitis B and C is also quite high among the injectors.

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Australian Anastasios Papadopoulus, a former Mr. Victoria bodybuilder, is bound for jail and is likely to stay there for at least five years for trafficking anabolic steroids.

According to County Court Judge John Barnett, Papadopoulos resorted to selling anabolic steroids and other illicit drugs to support his lifestyle, which included gambling away large sums of money at Crown casino.

He sold 18,715 ecstasy tablets, 879.5g of cocaine worth $241,730, 9931g of amphetamines and 13,402ml of steroids, Judge Barnett said. The county judge sentenced Papadopoulus to eight years and nine months’ jail with a minimum of five years. He will also have to pay a pecuniary penalty order amounting to $436,820.

Authorities began investigating the 28-year-old Brunswick resident back in 2006. He was then the proprietor Flash Bodies, a personal training studio located in Moonee Ponds. In late 2006 and early 2007, he supplied drugs to an undercover police officer he met at his studio.
Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of ecstasy, trafficking in a commercial quantity of cocaine and five counts of trafficking a drug of dependence.

Anabolic steroids, properly termed anabolic-androgenic steroids, are man-made substances related to male sex hormones. Medical uses of anabolic steroids include therapy for some hormone problems in men, late puberty and muscle-wasting condition from some diseases.

Bodybuilders and athletes often use these compounds to build muscles and improve athletic performance. Their use is banned by all major sport organizations including the International Olympic Committee, UEFA, FIFA, and the European Athletic Commission.

Anabolic steroids are also classified as controlled substances in many countries including Brazil, Canada, Argentina, United Kingdom, United States, and Australia.

In Australia, anabolic steroids are scheduled as dangerous drugs with the exception of South Australia. In South Australia, possession of these drugs does not constitute a crime; however, trafficking or selling does.

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The recent incident in the Triple Crown on May 3 has spotlighted the use of anabolic steroids in horse racing once again. Champion filly Eight Belles has suffered two broken front ankles after finishing second in the Derby; and several minutes later, she has to be euthanized on the track.

In the statistics provided by Kentucky’s state veterinarian Lafe Nichols, DVM, it reported that in 2007, there were 45 fatal injuries in races conducted at the Kentucky tracks. Non-fatal-injuries were 81. Further, Nichols said that 23% of the 23,309 horses started at the same tracks have tested positive for medical violations. And of the 1,586 horses tested for the prohibited TCO2 only one was tested positive. TCO2, commonly called milkshake, is a mixture of bicarbonate and/or other alkaline substances that is fed to a horse before it competes. The mixture produces higher levels of carbon dioxide that delays the buildup of lactic acid in a horse’s muscles and is believed to increase stamina.

Why are anabolic steroids used on horses? The characteristics of Equipoise (boldenone) and Winstrol (stanozolol), two of the most commonly used steroids on horses, can explain why these compounds are popular in the equine industry.

These two steroids reportedly increase protein synthesis, a chemical process ideal for the body’s muscle-muscle building activity. Winstrol’s advertised properties are promotion of appetite, weight gain, stamina, hair/coat growth, and tissue healing. Further, it is promoted as a substance that corrects nitrogen imbalance without the undesirable effects of unmanageable behavior, aggressive tendencies, and impaired reproductive activity.

Equipoise’s advertisement, on the other hand, states that this drug is ideal for lean body weight, appetite, and general disposition of horses.

In humans, anabolic steroids (including veterinary-grade compounds such Equipoise and Winstrol) are popular among bodybuilders. They are widely used because they are believed to improve physique and performance. Their use, however, is considered to be illegal in most sports organizations, including the International Olympic Committee.

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