The dyslipoproteinemia of anabolic steroid therapy: Increase in hepatic triglyceride lipase precedes the decrease in high density lipoprotein 2 cholesterol

Abstract

Administration of the androgenic anabolic steroid, stanozolol, is associated with decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (primarily due to decreased HDL 2 cholesterol) and increased levels of postheparin plasma hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) activity. Since HTGL appears to play a role in HDL metabolism, we examined the temporal relationship between these changes. HDL cholesterol remained stable during the first two days of stanozolol administration, but decreased 14% ( P < .01) by the third day and 39% ( P < .01) by the seventh day of stanozolol. HDL 2 cholesterol paralleled the total HDL cholesterol level and remained stable for the first two days, but decreased 22% ( P < .01) after three days and 71% ( P < .01) after seven days of stanozolol. In contrast, HTGL increased 62% ( P < .001) during the first day, 161% ( P < .001) with two days, 230% ( P < .001) with three days of stanozolol administration, and remained elevated thereafter. Thus, during stanozolol administration HTGL increased dramatically and clearly before any change in HDL or HDL 2 cholesterol.