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Do steroids cause muscle and body growth?
There is no evidence that ultra-high doses of steroids alone
will cause muscle growth through a chemical effect. In many animal
species, high doses of anabolic steroids produce no more muscle
growth than the normal dose would.(1,2) However, there
is evidence that steroids enhance muscle growth if taken along with
rigorous physical training and a high protein diet.(3-5) This
exercise program must be in place before and during anabolic
steroid administration.(4,6)
Anabolic steroids act on the balance between anabolic and
catabolic processes within the body. Anabolism is the constructive
process by which simple substances are converted to more complex
compounds, such as bone and muscle tissue. Catabolism is the
corresponding destructive process which breaks down these complex
compounds for removal from the body. The normal body will attempt
to maintain a balance between these two processes as they carry out
tissue renewal and replacement.(7) The state of anabolism
and catabolism may be measured by evaluating the body's nitrogen
balance.
As Stedman's Medical Dictionary puts it:
[Nitrogen balance is] the difference between total nitrogen
ingested and the total nitrogen excreted by an organism. In
an adult, presumably not growing, this should be zero at a
given intake or above.(8)
Anabolic steroids reverse the catabolic effect by increasing
protein synthesis in skeletal muscle.(4,7) They are
believed to diffuse into the cellular cytosol and bind to the
androgen receptor. The newly formed receptor-steroid complex
migrates to the nucleus, interacts with the DNA and initiates
transcription. The production of RNA is then increased, causing an
increased rate of protein synthesis. In this way, the use of these
agents increases muscle size and strength.(7,9)
In order for the athlete to accumulate extra muscle mass, his
or her body must temporarily be in a state of positive nitrogen
balance: More nitrogen (as muscle mass) must come into the body
than is lost. During strenuous exercise, the release of
glucocorticosteroids throws the body into a negative nitrogen
balance. After exercise, the body experiences a temporary state
of positive nitrogen balance, during which new proteins are added
to muscle tissue. Unless there is further exercise, the nitrogen
balance returns to zero.
Without the use of anabolic steroids, muscle mass is built up
very slowly after long periods of rigorous training. Anabolic
steroids can reverse the short-term catabolic effect, leading to
positive nitrogen balance and faster gains in muscle mass.
However, maintenance of a positive nitrogen balance is short lived
(1 - 2 months) unless the steroid dose is continually increased.
Rapid tolerance (tachyphylaxis) to steroids occurs in muscle tissue
as the body attempts to maintain homeostasis.(9) One
homeostatic mechanism may be a rise in serum cortisol during
steroid treatment. This may counteract the anabolic effect while
potentiating the catabolic.(9) The risk of serious side
effects is increased as the athlete takes higher and higher doses
of anabolics to maintain a positive nitrogen balance.
There is some evidence that anabolic steroids cause the
athlete to feel like working out more often and more
vigorously.(5) This psychological effect may be more
important than any direct chemical effect.(5) Frequent and
more vigorous workouts may be a reason for the increased incidence
of connective tissue injuries associated with steroid
abuse.(10)
There is no evidence that ultra-high doses of steroids alone
will cause muscle growth through a chemical effect. In many animal
species, high doses of anabolic steroids produce no more muscle
growth than the normal dose would.(1,2) However, there
is evidence that steroids enhance muscle growth if taken along with
rigorous physical training and a high protein diet.(3-5) This
exercise program must be in place before and during anabolic
steroid administration.(4,6)
Anabolic steroids act on the balance between anabolic and
catabolic processes within the body. Anabolism is the constructive
process by which simple substances are converted to more complex
compounds, such as bone and muscle tissue. Catabolism is the
corresponding destructive process which breaks down these complex
compounds for removal from the body. The normal body will attempt
to maintain a balance between these two processes as they carry out
tissue renewal and replacement.(7) The state of anabolism
and catabolism may be measured by evaluating the body's nitrogen
balance.
As Stedman's Medical Dictionary puts it:
[Nitrogen balance is] the difference between total nitrogen
ingested and the total nitrogen excreted by an organism. In
an adult, presumably not growing, this should be zero at a
given intake or above.(8)
Anabolic steroids reverse the catabolic effect by increasing
protein synthesis in skeletal muscle.(4,7) They are
believed to diffuse into the cellular cytosol and bind to the
androgen receptor. The newly formed receptor-steroid complex
migrates to the nucleus, interacts with the DNA and initiates
transcription. The production of RNA is then increased, causing an
increased rate of protein synthesis. In this way, the use of these
agents increases muscle size and strength.(7,9)
In order for the athlete to accumulate extra muscle mass, his
or her body must temporarily be in a state of positive nitrogen
balance: More nitrogen (as muscle mass) must come into the body
than is lost. During strenuous exercise, the release of
glucocorticosteroids throws the body into a negative nitrogen
balance. After exercise, the body experiences a temporary state
of positive nitrogen balance, during which new proteins are added
to muscle tissue. Unless there is further exercise, the nitrogen
balance returns to zero.
Without the use of anabolic steroids, muscle mass is built up
very slowly after long periods of rigorous training. Anabolic
steroids can reverse the short-term catabolic effect, leading to
positive nitrogen balance and faster gains in muscle mass.
However, maintenance of a positive nitrogen balance is short lived
(1 - 2 months) unless the steroid dose is continually increased.
Rapid tolerance (tachyphylaxis) to steroids occurs in muscle tissue
as the body attempts to maintain homeostasis.(9) One
homeostatic mechanism may be a rise in serum cortisol during
steroid treatment. This may counteract the anabolic effect while
potentiating the catabolic.(9) The risk of serious side
effects is increased as the athlete takes higher and higher doses
of anabolics to maintain a positive nitrogen balance.
There is some evidence that anabolic steroids cause the
athlete to feel like working out more often and more
vigorously.(5) This psychological effect may be more
important than any direct chemical effect.(5) Frequent and
more vigorous workouts may be a reason for the increased incidence
of connective tissue injuries associated with steroid
abuse.(10)
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