Relations Between Performance Enhancement Drugs and Health-defining Parameters During the Competition Preparation Period of World-class Bodybuilders

Abstract

Fluctuations in biochemical parameters defining cardiovascular, liver and muscoskeletal health were analyzed to evaluate the health status of world class bodybuilders using performance enhancement drugs such as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) [testosterone propionate, drostanolone propionate (Masteron), trenbolone acetate (Finajet), oxandrolone (Anavar), stanozolol (Winstrol) and boldenone undecylenate], human growth hormone (HGH) and “fat-burning drugs” [triiodothyronine (t3), clenbuterol, mesterolone (Proviron), tamoxifen citrate (Nolvadex) and 2,4-Dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP)], and a 6-month preparation period. Changes in serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and bilirubin, as well as body mass (BM) and total body fat percentage (BF%), were measured as a function of the competition preparation period. The study shows a continuous increase in BM, accompanied by a decrease in BF% to the physiologically optimal level. TC levels varied significantly within the desired concentration range (TC < 5.18 mmol / L), and TG fluctuated between the ranges of concentrations borderline high (1.69 mmol / L ≤ TG < 2.26 mmol / L) and high (2.26 mmol / L ≤ TG < 5.65 mmol / L) concentration ranges. HDL-C levels remained within the low range (TG < 1.03 mmol / L), whereas LDL-C fluctuated across all physiologically important ranges, that is, near-optimal / above optimal (2.59 mmol / L ≤ LDL-C < 3.34 mmol / L), borderline high (3.35 mmol / L ≤ LDL-C < 4.11 mmol / L), and high (4.14 mmol / L ≤ LDL-C < 4.91 mmol / L). AST and ALT concentrations remained within the high-concentration region, i.e., > 0.58 mkat / L and > 0.91 mkat / L. Bilirubin concentration fluctuated within the desirable limits (3.42 mmol / L ≤ Bilirubin < 2.53 mmol / L), and urea concentration were between desirable (3.2 mmol / L ≤ Urea < 7.9 mmol / L) and high values (Urea ≥ 7.9 mmol / L). Although most of the changes are within physiologically acceptable ranges, there are evident disturbances in LDL-C and Urea levels induced by performance-enhancing drugs. To our knowledge, this study is among the few, if not the only, that discloses the physiological changes associated with doping-assisted preparations for an international bodybuilding contest.

The potential usage of thyroid hormones as sport doping - a mini-review

“…Their enhancement of thermogenesis may result up with adipose tissue loss (Ribeiro, 2008). This function of thyroid hormones is concerned for usage in dyslipidemias and obesity treatment (Wiacek et al, 2021).…”

Changes in Health-related Parameters Associated with Sports Performance Enhancement Drugs

“…This study is an explicit analysis of the health-defining parameters of world-class bodybuilders as a function of self-administration of PED, including AAS [testosterone propionate, drostanolone propionate (Masteron), trenbolone acetate, oxandrolone (Anavar), stanozolol (Winstrol) and boldenone undecylenate], human growth hormone (HGH) and fat-burning drugs [triiodothyronine (t3), clenbuterol, mesterlone (Proviron), tamoxifen citrate (Nolvadex), and 2, 4-Dinitrophenol (2,]. The study was conducted with a group of eight top amateur/professional bodybuilders during the competition preparation period [16]. It is also an attempt to establish to what extent AAS are used in competitive sports.…”