HOMOCYSTEINE (HCY)CONCENTRATIONS FOLLOWING LONG TERM ANABOLIC ANDROGENIC STEROID (AAS) USE.

Abstract

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of long term (>20 years) administration of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) on plasma homocysteine (HCY), Vitamin B12 and Folate concentrations. METHODS Subjects (n = 40) were divided into four distinct groups: AAS users (n=10) who were still using at time of testing (SU), a group of AAS users (n=10) who had been abstinent from AAS administration for a period greater than three months prior to examination (SA), Bodybuilding controls (n=10) who did not use any pharmacological ergogenic aids (BC), and (n=10) sedentary male controls (SC). SUMMARY OF RESULTS HCY was significantly higher in SU compared with BC, SC (P<0.01), and with SA (P<0.05). Fat free mass was significantly higher in both groups of AAS users (P<0.01). Daily Energy Intake and Daily Protein Intake (%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in SU and SA compared with BC and SC groups, but was unlikely to be responsible for the observed HCY elevations. Haematology was unremarkable between groups except that of Haematocrit (HCT) concentrations which were significantly higher (P<0.01) in the SU group. A significant inverse relationship was observed between sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and HCY, particularly in the SU group (r = −0.828, P<0.01), indicating a possible influence of the sex hormones in determining HCY levels. CONCLUSION With the surmounting evidence linking the capacity for AAS to adversely affect a number of clotting factors, the significantly higher levels of HCY and HCT observed in the SU group, suggests that long-term AAS users are at an increased risk of developing future thrombo-embolytic events.