@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2252-0805    The Horizon of Medical Sciences 2016;22(1):21-26

Background
… [1-17] Most of the studies about doping and anabolic steroids show an increase in the consumption of the medications recently in Iran [18, 19]. Despite the fact, it is known that the athletes who consume the medications have not enough knowledge about doping and such medications and most of them assess injectable steroids highly morbid than the oral type [5, 6, 20].
Previous Studies
Most of the studies about complications due to the consumption of the steroids criticize the medications without any investigation about their chemical structures and classifying them or investigate a particular steroid individually.
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of consumption of 17α-alkyl steroids and 17β-hydroxy steroids on the levels of liver enzymes and hematological factors in male bodybuilders.
Research type
This is a causal comparative study.
Research society, place and time
Bodybuilders resident in Mashhad (Iran) were studied in 2014.
Sampling method and number
24 athletes were studied via census method. PASS functions and NCSS software were used to estimate the sample size.
Used devices&materials
Anthropometric characteristics, type of the consumed steroid, and exercise history were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. Based on the information, the subjects were divided into three 8-person groups including “consumers of oral steroids (17α-alkyl)” (group 1), “consumers of injectable steroids (17β-hydroxy)” (group 2), and “athletes without any AAS consumption history” (group 3). The subjects were without any inherited hematological or liver disease and all of them had not had any drug or drugs containing alcohol. Consumption period of the steroids in two consumption groups were 8 weeks. In the first group, the used medication forms were dianabol, methandienone, oximetallon, metan, and winstrol tablets all of which had 17α-alkyl structure. In the second group, the used medications were nandrolone decanoate, testosterone enanthate, sustanon, and testosterone propionate all of which had 17β-hydroxy structure. After 12-hour fasting, the subjects were in the laboratory for blood sampling. ALT, AST, ALP enzymes were measured using a kit (ParsAzmoon; Iran) via DGKC and IFCC methods with an auto-analyzer device (CRONIX 801-AT; Germany). A counter device (Diatron; Austria) was used to determine CBC. Data was analyzed using SPSS 19 software. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to investigate normal data. Homogeneity of the variances having been confirmed by Leven’s test, the groups were compared with each other using One-way ANOVA and post-hoc tests.
Findings by Text
Mean age, height, and weight of the subjects were 25.49±4.80years, 174.38±9.20cm, and 74.68±11.7kg, respectively. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase enzymes in the first group were significantly higher than other groups. There was no significant difference in the levels of phosphatase alkaline, despite a higher level in the first group than others. Number of red blood cells in the second group (using injectable steroids) was significantly higher than control group. Number of red blood cells was significantly higher than the group consuming oral steroids. Hemoglobin and hematocrit in the group using injectable steroids were significantly higher than other groups. There was no significant difference in other factors such as WBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and PL between the groups (Table 1).
Main comparison to the similar studies
There was an increase in the serum levels of ALT and AST enzymes in the group consuming oral steroids (17α-Alkyl) than other groups. In athletes consuming the medications, most changes are in AST and ALT enzymes, while there is not any considerable change in the level of ALP [21, 22]. … [23] There are liver cholestasis and toxicity, as well as an increase in the liver enzymes due to AAS consumption, in three athletes [24]. Toxicity of 17α-alkyl group has been confirmed compared to 17β medication group, in such case that non-alkyl steroids have shown no liver complication in similar doses [25]. Similarly, in the present study, the group using injectable steroids (17β) underwent no considerable changes and there was no considerable increase in the levels of AST and ALT enzymes in the group unlike the first group. There were significant increases in some factors such as red blood cells, hematocrits, and hemoglobin in the groups consuming steroids especially in the second group. The results are consistent with many studies [26]. There are significant increases in hematocrit and hemoglobin due to the consumption of testosterone enanthate [26]. … [27-29] There was no significant difference in other hematologic factors such as WBC, PLT, MCV, and neutrophil. The results are consistent with other studies [13, 30]. … [31-33]
Suggestions
Comprehensive training programs should be compiled to enhance the athletes’ knowledge about the consequences of AAS consumption.
Limitations
Lack of enough true information about the consumed medications by the athletes and a homogeneous sample were of the limitations for the present study.
Conclusions
There are increases in the levels of AST and ALT liver enzymes only due to the consumption of oral steroids (17α-alkyl), while any increase in the levels of erythrocyte, hematocrit, and hemoglobin is expectable due to any medication consumption.
Acknowledgments
All the participants and staff of the medical laboratory are appreciated.
Conflict of interest
Non-declared
Ethical Permissions
Due no encouraging the athletes to consume AAS, no intervention by the researcher, and using pretest-posttest methods, there is no specific ethical situation.
Funding Sources
The study was funded by Research Deputy of Mashhad Ferdosi University.

TABLES and CHARTS

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